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Marek Doležaj

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Marek Doležaj
Doležaj in 2020
Keflavík
PositionPower forward
LeagueÚrvalsdeild karla
Personal information
Born (1998-04-13) 13 April 1998 (age 26)
Bratislava, Slovakia
NationalitySlovak
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolGymnázium Hubeného
(Bratislava, Slovakia)
CollegeSyracuse (2017–2021)
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2014–present
Career history
2014–2015MBK Karlovka Bratislava
2015–2016Club Baloncesto El Olivar
2016–2017MBK Karlovka Bratislava
2021–2022Ternopil
2022Iraklis Thessaloniki
2023WWU Baskets Münster
2023–presentKeflavík
Career highlights and awards

Marek Doležaj (born 13 April 1998) is a Slovak professional basketball player.[1] He played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange.

In 2024, he won the Icelandic Basketball Cup as a member of Keflavík.

Early life and career

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Doležaj was born in Bratislava, the son of Miloš Doležaj, a banker, and Ladislava, a professor. His older sister played volleyball. Doležaj grew up playing soccer but first began playing basketball at the age of seven after a coach suggested it.[2] He studied at the Gymnázium Hubeného in Bratislava. Doležaj joined MBK Karlovka Bratislava of the Extraliga in 2014, and averaged 2.1 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. He signed with Club Baloncesto El Olivar of the Spanish LEB Plata in October 2015.[3] He put videos of himself playing basketball on YouTube, which attracted the attention of Syracuse assistant coach Adrian Autry. Autry eventually came to Bratislava to recruit Doležaj.[2] During the 2016-17 season, he played for MBK Karlovka Bratislava and averaged 11.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. In May 2017, he committed to play college basketball at Syracuse after talking to his best friend Jack, who grew up in Upstate, NY.[4]

College career

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As a freshman, Doležaj started the final 17 games of the season and averaged 5.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, helping the team reach the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. He averaged 4.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore, starting six games.[5] On February 1, 2020, Dolezaj scored a career-high 22 points in a 97-88 loss to Duke.[6] As a junior, he averaged 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Doležaj was slowed by a broken finger as a senior.[7] He chipped his tooth in a game against Georgetown on January 9, 2021.[8] Doležaj averaged 9.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, helping the Orange advance to the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16.[9] He finished his career with 960 points and 649 rebounds. Doležaj declined to accept the NCAA's additional year of eligibility granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, instead entering the 2021 NBA draft.[7][10]

Professional career

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On August 17, 2021, Doležaj signed with BC Ternopil of the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague.[11] He averaged 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

On January 13, 2022, Doležaj signed with Iraklis of the Greek Basket League.[12] In 13 games, he averaged 4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 23 minutes per contest.

In July 2023, Doležaj signed with Keflavík of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild karla.[13] On 23 March 2024, he won the Icelandic Basketball Cup with Keflavík.[14]

On 28 September 2024, he won the Icelandic Super Cup after Keflavík defeated reigning national champions Valur 98–88 in the cup final.[15]

National team career

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Doležaj has represented Slovakia in several international competitions. He participated in the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Division B, averaging 9.1 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists per game despite being younger than most players. Doležaj posted a triple double of 11 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against Ireland.[3] In the 2016 FIBA U18 European Championship Division B, he led the team in scoring and rebounding with 13.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.[4] Doležaj averaged 11 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in the 2018 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B qualifiers.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Marek Doležaj si necháva čas na dôležité rozhodnutia". SLOVENSKÁ BASKETBALOVÁ ASOCIÁCIA (in Slovak). Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  2. ^ a b "Slovak Basketball Player Marek Dolezaj at Syracuse University". First Catholic Slovak Union. March 5, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Marek Dolezaj, nueva pieza para el filial y el Júnior del CAI Zaragoza". Casademont Zaragoza (in Spanish). October 8, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Ditota, Donna (May 23, 2017). "Marek Dolezaj, 6-9 forward from Slovakia, signs with Syracuse basketball". The Post-Standard. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  5. ^ Waters, Mike (November 18, 2019). "Syracuse's Marek Dolezaj on 19-point game: 'It's mindset'". The Post-Standard. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  6. ^ "No. 9 Duke beats Syracuse 97-88; Carey another double-double". ESPN. Associated Press. February 1, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Marek Dolezaj says goodbye to Syracuse". LocalSyr.com. April 7, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  8. ^ Carlson, Chris (January 11, 2021). "Marek Dolezaj isn't supposed to eat pizza for 2 weeks, but Buddy Boeheim believes he will 'find a way'". The Post-Standard. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  9. ^ Sladek, Tommy (April 7, 2021). "SU men's basketball: Marek Dolezaj going pro, won't return next season". CNY Central. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  10. ^ "NBA announces early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2021". NBA.com. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  11. ^ Waters, Mike (August 17, 2021). "Former Syracuse basketball player Marek Dolezaj has signed with a pro team in Europe". The Post-Standard. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  12. ^ Mammides, Chris (January 13, 2022). "Marek Dolezaj (ex Ternopil TNEU) joins Iraklis". Eurobasket. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  13. ^ Smári Jökull Jónsson (4 July 2023). "Hávaxinn Slóvaki til liðs við Keflavík". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  14. ^ Jóhann Páll Ástvaldsson; Almarr Ormarsson (23 March 2024). "Keflvíkingar bikarmeistarar eftir ótrúlega sveiflu". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  15. ^ Stefán Marteinn Ólafsson (28 September 2024). "Uppgjörið: Keflavík - Þór Ak. 82-86 - Þór skellti meisturunum". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Marek DOLEZAJ". FIBA. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
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