Wednesday, January 14, 2015

12 GREATEST PLAYERS IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA BASKETBALL HISTORY

Honorable Mentions (20 players):

>Players born pre-1937<
Jiri Baumruk (1x CS / 3x S / 1x B / 1x EMVP)
Zdenek Bobrovsky (9x CS / 2x S / 1x B)   
Lubomir Kolar (8x CS / 1x S / 1x B)   
Jan Kozak (8x CS / 3x S)    
Zdenek Rylich (2x CS / 3x S / 1x B)   
Jaroslav Sip (5x CS / 3x S / 1x B)
Miroslav Skerik (5x CS / 3x S /    1x B / 1x ECTS)
Jaroslav Tetiva (5x CS / 2x S / 1x B)                       
Bohumil Tomasek (2x CS / 2x S / 1x E*)       
Ladislav Trpkos (4x CS / 1x G /    1x S)                       

>Players born in 1937-1966<
Jiri Ammer (5x CS / 1x S / 1x B)
Karel Baroch (5x CS / 1x S / 1x B / 2x A*)
Zdenek Böhm (1x S / 1x B / 4x A* / 1x MVP / T12S)
Gustav Hraska # (4x CS / 2x B / 5x A* / T12S)
Josef Jelinek (4x CS / 3x A* / 1x MVP)       
Jiri Konopasek (6x CS / 2x B / 1x A*)   
Oto Maticky # (1x S / 4x A* / 3x MVP)   
Robert Mifka (6x CS / 1x S / 1x B)
Peter Rajniak # (4x CS / 1x S / 1x B / 1x A*)
Jaroslav Skala (2x CS / 1x S / 1x B / 6x A* / 1x MVP / T12S)

[CS=Czechoslovak basketball league champion, G/S/B=Gold/Silver/Bronze medal at European Championship, A*=All-CS league 1st team, MVP=best player of the season in CS league, EMVP=MVP at European Championship, ECTS= Top Scorer at European Championship, E*=FIBA All-Star Game/FIBA Festival, T12S= Top 12 scorer in CS league history, #Slovaks]

THE PANTHEON OF CZECHOSLOVAK HOOPS
(players listed by date of birth)

*Ivan Mrazek*       
Born: January 18, 1926 (Brno, Czechoslovakia)
Center
Height: 6-2


 
Career history
1946-1957 Sokol Brno I/Zbrojovka Brno/Spartak ZJS Brno

Career highlights and awards
FIBA's 50 Greatest Players (1991)
Champion of the CS League (1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 [1950-51 season], 1951 [year 1951 season])
European Championship MVP (1951)
European Championship Top Scorer (1951)
European Championship: Gold (1946), Silver (1947, 1951, 1955)
#10 scorer in history of Czechoslovak national team

***

*Frantisek Konvicka*   
Born: August 11, 1939 (Okrisky, Czechoslovakia)
Forward
Height: 6-4



Career history
1956-1957 Trebic
1957-1969 Zbrojovka Brno
1969-1970 Standard Lutych (BEL)
1970-1971 Sunair BC Oostende (BEL)
1971-1973 Zbrojovka Brno

Career highlights and awards
CS League MVP (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968)
All-CS League 1st team (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969)
Champion of the CS League (1958, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968)
Champion of Belgian League (1970)
European Championship: Silver (1959, 1967), Bronze (1969)
FIBA All-Star Game/FIBA Festival (1965, 2 games; 1968, 2 games)
#9 scorer in history of Czechoslovak national team

***

*Vladimir Pistelak*    
Born: July 30, 1940 (Brno, Czechoslovakia)
Forward/Guard
Height: 6-2



Career history
1958-1969 Zbrojovka Brno
1969-1971 Racing Mechelen (BEL)
1971-1973 Zbrojovka Brno

Career highlights and awards
CS League MVP (1969)
All-CS League 1st team (1965, 1968, 1969)
Champion of the CS League (1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968)
European Championship: Silver (1967), Bronze (1969)
FIBA All-Star Game/FIBA Festival (1965, 2 games)
#22 scorer in history of Czechoslovak national team

***

*Jiri Ruzicka*       
Born: June 4, 1941 (Podebrady, Czechoslovakia)
Point Guard
Height: 6-1
Nickname: Fialka (violet)



Career history
1960-1961 Spartak ZJS Brno "B"
1961-1965 Slavia VS Prague
1965-1966 Dukla Olomouc
1966-1975 Slavia VS Prague

Career highlights and awards
All-CS League 1st team (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972)
Champion of the CS League (1965, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974)
European Championship: Silver (1967), Bronze (1969)
FIBA All-Star Game/FIBA Festival (1967, 2 games)
#14 scorer in history of Czechoslovak national team

***

*Jiri Zidek Sr.*       
Born: February 8, 1944 (Prague, Czechoslovakia)
Center
Height: 6-9
Nickname: Andrej



Career history
1962-1969 Slavia VS Prague
1969-1970 Dukla Olomouc
1970-1977 Slavia VS Prague
1977-1979 Slavia VST Kosice
1982-1984 Forza Alku (FIN), player-coach

Career highlights and awards
Czech Player of 20th Century Award (2001)
CS League MVP (1970, 1972)
All-CS League 1st team (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974)
Champion of the CS League (1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974)
European Championship all-tournament team (1967)
European Championship: Silver (1967), Bronze (1969)
FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup (1969)
FIBA All-Star Game/FIBA Festival (1966, 2 games; 1967, 2 games)
#1 scorer in CS League history
Single game scoring record in Czechoslovak basketball league history -- 68 points (1970)
#3 scorer in history of Czechoslovak national team

***

*Jiri Zednicek*       
Born: February 14, 1945 (Prague, Czechoslovakia)
Guard
Height: 6-4



Career history
1962-1978 Slavia VS Prague
1978-1982 VSDS Zilina

Career highlights and awards
All-CS League 1st team (1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973)
Champion of the CS League (1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974)
European Championship MVP (1967)
European Championship all-tournament team (1967)
European Championship: Silver (1967), Bronze (1969)
FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup (1969)
FIBA All-Star Game/FIBA Festival (1966, 2 games; 1967, 2 games; 1969, 1971; 1972, 4 games)
#8 scorer in CS League history
#11 scorer in history of Czechoslovak national team

***

*Jan Bobrovsky*       
Born: March 29, 1945 (Rosice, Czechoslovakia)
Guard/Forward
Height: 6-7



Career history
1963-1972 Zbrojovka Brno
1972-1973 Dukla Olomouc
1973-1978 Zbrojovka Brno
1978-1983 Slavia VSD Zilina

Career highlights and awards
CS League MVP (1971, 1973)
All-CS League 1st team (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978)
Champion of the CS League (1964, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978)
European Championship: Silver (1967), Bronze (1969)
FIBA All-Star Game/FIBA Festival (1965, 2 games)
#3 scorer in CS League history
#7 scorer in history of Czechoslovak national team

***

*Jiri Pospisil*               
Born: September 9, 1950 (Brno, Czechoslovakia)
Guard
Height: 6-7
Nickname: Áda



Career history
1968-1974 Spartak Brno
1974-1977 Banik Ostrava
1977-1979 Dukla Olomouc
1979-1981 Banik Ostrava
1988-1989 TJ Valasske Mezirici
1989-1993 TJ/BC Novy Jicin
1993-1998 SBK Valasske Mezirici

Career highlights and awards
All-CS League 1st team (1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
European Championship: Bronze (1977)
#13 scorer in CS League history
#5 scorer in history of Czechoslovak national team

***

*Kamil Brabenec*
Born: February 4, 1951 (Znojmo, Czechoslovakia)
Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Height: 6-4



Career history
1970-1972 RH Pardubice
1972-1982 Zbrojovka Brno
1982-1983 Banik Handlova
1983-1988 BC Brno
1988-1989 Trencin
1989-1991 Debrecen (HUN)
1991-1992 Trencin
1992-1993 Zdar nad Sazavou
1993-1995 Usti nad Labem

Career highlights and awards
CS League MVP (1976)
All-CS League 1st team (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1987)
Champion of the CS League (1976, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1987, 1988)
World Championship Top Scorer (1978)
Scored the 8th most points in a single game at World Championship (44 points)
European Championship: Silver (1985), Bronze (1977, 1981)
FIBA All-Star Game/FIBA Festival (1977, 1978)
#2 scorer in CS League history
#1 scorer in history of Czechoslovak national team

***

*Zdenek Kos*       
Born: June 23, 1951 (Prague, Czechoslovakia)
Center
Height: 6-10



Career history
1968-1969 Slovan Orbis Prague
1969-1970 VS Prague
1970-1981 Dukla Olomouc

Career highlights and awards
CS League MVP (1974, 1975, 1977, 1978)
All-CS League 1st team (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
Champion of the CS League (1970, 1973, 1975)
European Championship: Bronze (1977, 1981)
FIBA All-Star Game/FIBA Festival (1977, 1981)
#17 scorer in CS League history
#4 scorer in history of Czechoslovak national team

***

*Stanislav Kropilak* #   
Born: June 10, 1955 (Kremnica, Czechoslovakia)
Center/Power Forward
Height: 6-10
Nickname: Killy



Career history
1972-1975 Slavia SVST Bratislava
1975-1983 Inter Bratislava
1983-1984 RH Pardubice
1984-1985 Inter Bratislava

1985-1987 CEP Fleurus (BEL)
1987-1989 CEP Boigelot Charleroi (BEL)
1989-1990 Spirou Monceau (BEL)
1990-1992 Amicale Steinsel (LUX)
1992-1994 Avenire Namur (BEL)
1994-1996 Spirou Gilly (BEL)

Career highlights and awards
FIBA's 50 Greatest Players (1991)
Slovak Player of 20th Century Award (2000)
CS League MVP (1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985)
All-CS League 1st team (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985)
Champion of the CS League (1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985)
European Championship all-tournament team (1983)
European Championship: Silver (1985), Bronze (1977, 1981)
FIBA All-Star Game/FIBA Festival (1981, 3 games; 1982, 2 games; 1987, 3 games)
#12 scorer in CS League history
#2 scorer in history of Czechoslovak national team

***

*Vlastimil Havlik*           
Born: January 26, 1957 (Brno, Czechoslovakia)
Guard
Height: 6-3
Nickname: Vata (cotton-wool)



Career history
1975-1983 Zbrojovka Brno
1983-1984 Dukla Olomouc
1984-1988 Zbrojovka Brno
1991-1992 TTS Trencin
1996-1998 BK Opava

Career highlights and awards
All-CS League 1st team (1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987)
Champion of the CS League (1976, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1987, 1988)
Champion of Czech League (1997, 1998)
European Championship: Silver (1985), Bronze (1981)
#14 scorer in CS League history
#17 scorer in history of Czechoslovak national team

***

BONUS:

Here's my Czechoslovakia's all-decade teams...

1930s: Jiri Ctyroky (G), Josef Franc (G), Josef Klima (F), Ladislav Trpkos (F), Frantisek Picek (C), Frantisek Hajek (6th man), J.M. Marek (coach)

1940s: Emil Velensky (G), Josef Krepela (G), Ladislav Trpkos (F), Milos Bobocky (F), Ivan Mrazek (C), Josef Toms (6th man), Josef Ezr (7th man), Frantisek Hajek (coach)

1950s: Jaroslav Sip (G), Zdenek Bobrovsky (G), Jiri Baumruk (F), Ivan Mrazek (F), Miroslav Skerik (C), Jaroslav Tetiva (6th man), Jan Kozak (7th man), Josef Fleischlinger (coach)

1960s: Jiri Zednicek (G), Jan Bobrovsky (G), Vladimir Pistelak (F), Frantisek Konvicka (F), Jiri Zidek (C), Jiri Ruzicka (6th man), Karel Baroch (7th man), Bohumil Tomasek (8th man), Vladimir Heger (coach)

1970s: Jiri Pospisil (G), Kamil Brabenec (G), Jan Bobrovsky (F), Jiri Zidek (F), Zdenek Kos (C), Jiri Zednicek (6th man), Stanislav Kropilak (7th man), Jiri Konopasek (8th man), Vladimir Heger (coach)

1980s: Vlastimil Havlik (G), Zdenek Bohm (G), Kamil Brabenec (F), Stanislav Kropilak (F), Jaroslav Skala (C), Gustav Hraska (6th man), Peter Rajniak (7th man) Oto Maticky (8th man), Pavel Petera (coach)

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