Primož Brezec

Primož Brezec

Brezec in 2009.
BC Nizhny Novgorod
Center
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Breza
Born	(1979-10-02) October 2, 1979 (age 32) Postojna, Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia
Nationality	Slovenian
Listed height	7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Listed weight	255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	2000 / 1nd round, 27st overall
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Pro career	1996–present
League	PBL EuroChallenge
Career history
Kraski Zidar (1996–98) Union Olimpija Ljubljana (1998–01) Indiana Pacers (2001–04) Charlotte Bobcats (2004–07) Detroit Pistons (2007–08) Toronto Raptors (2008) Lottomatica Roma (2008–09) Philadelphia 76ers (2009–10) Milwaukee Bucks (2010) Krasnye Krylya Samara (2010-11) Lokomotiv Kuban (2011-12) BC Nizhny Novgorod (2012-...)

Primož Brezec (born October 2, 1979) is a Slovenian professional basketball player with BC Nizhny Novgorod of the Russian Super League. He is a 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) tall center. Brezec has played seven seasons in the NBA.

Pro career

Europe

Brezec grew up in Sežana, where he also made his professional debut with the local team Kraski Zidar. During his high school years he was a member of the basketball team and a major star of the ŠKL League, the national high school league. As a professional, he played for the Slovenian Premier A League club Union Olimpija Ljubljana from 1998 until 2001.

Brezec spent the next 7 seasons playing in the NBA in the United States and Canada. He returned to Europe on July 20, 2008, when he signed a 2-year contract with Lottomatica Roma of the Italian league.^[1]

On September 26, 2010, Brezec signed with BC Krasnye Krylya Samara of the Russian Professional Basketball League.^[2]

In July 2011 he signed with Lokomotiv Kuban for one season,^[3] but he was waived in February 2012.^[4] In March 2012 he signed with BC Nizhny Novgorod.^[5]

NBA

Brezec with the Charlotte Bobcats in 2006.

Brezec was chosen by the Indiana Pacers with the 27th overall pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. After he spent three years in Indiana with little playing time, he was picked up in the 2004 NBA Expansion Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats. As the Bobcats' starting center, Brezec averaged career-highs of 13.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game during the 2004-05 NBA season. He also scored the first points, made the first turnover, and hit the first free-throws in the history of the franchise.

On December 14, 2007, Brezec, along with Bobcats teammate Wálter Herrmann, was traded to the Detroit Pistons for center Nazr Mohammed.^[6]

At the 2008 NBA trade deadline, which was on February 21, Brezec, along with cash considerations, was traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Juan Dixon.^[7] During his Raptors debut, he hit all five of his shots and finished with 11 points, three rebounds and a block in 13 minutes off the bench against the New York Knicks in a February 24 win.

In August 2009, he returned to the NBA when signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.^[8]

On February 18, 2010, Brezec was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks along with Royal Ivey in exchange for Jodie Meeks and Francisco Elson.^[9]

Slovenian national team

Brezec (#7) at Eurobasket 2009

Brezec has also been a member of the senior Slovenian national basketball team. With Slovenia's senior national team, he has played at the 2003 FIBA European Championship, the 2005 FIBA European Championship, the 2006 FIBA World Championship, and the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Notes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Primož Brezec

• NBA.com Profile - Primož Brezec
• Euroleague.net Profile
• Interbasket.net Profile
• Basketpedya.com Profile
• Primož Brezec on Twitter