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Mario Kasun

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Template:Infobox Euroleague Player Mario Kasun (born April 5, 1980, in Vinkovci, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Croatian professional basketball player. Currently he is a member of Croatian club KK Zagreb.

Pro career

Kasun started playing basketball at a local club in Delnice when he was 14, before he started playing professionally with BC Zrinjevac in Zagreb. He was part of the 1998-99 Croatian junior team and the Croatian under-21 team in 2000.

After two seasons in the Zagreb club, and winning the Croatian Cup, in 2000 he moved to the Gonzaga University in the NCAA, but was subsequently suspended by the Croatian Basketball Federation for this abrupt move, and spent two seasons on the bench.

Kasun played at 2002 NBA pre-draft camp in Chicago, being one of the tallest players, and showing some center skills. During 50 minutes over three games, he totalled 20 points and had 14 rebounds and six blocked shots, converting nine of 17 shots (52.9%).[1] In 2002, he was initially selected by the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Los Angeles Clippers in the second round (41st overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft. On June 26, he was traded by the Clippers to the Orlando Magic in exchange for future considerations. Regardless of this, he then moved to Germany to play for the Deutsche Bank Skyliners, based in Frankfurt. With them he won the German championship and also appeared in the 2003-2004 ULEB Cup.

In 2004, he returned to the US to play for the Orlando Magic. In the 2004–05 season he played in 45 games for Orlando and averaged 7.9 minutes per game. In 2005–06, he appeared in 28 games.

In July 2006 he returned to Europe again, signing with FC Barcelona and later in 2008 with Efes Pilsen.

In August 2010 he returned to Croatia and signed a one-year contract with KK Zagreb.[2]

In a March 2005 interview with Inside Hoops, Kasun referred Dražen Petrović as one of his favorite players and number one idol.[3]

Croatian national team

Kasun was part of the Croatian national basketball team at Eurobasket 2005, Eurobasket 2007 and Eurobasket 2009. After a disappointing result for Croatia in the Eurobasket 2009, Mario Kasun announced his retirement from the national team with this words: "This was my last game for the national team. Every time I left everything on the court, but it seems that is not enough. I need the summer to rest and not be injured. Obviously I am not stable in the head anymore."[4]

Tattoos

Kasun is famous for his tattoos, of which he has 30. He got his first when he was only 15.

His tattoos are mostly related with faith and his family. On his right forearm and wrist he has an angel and four letters: E, D, M and A. Those represent the first letter on the name of every member in his family: E for his sister "Eva", D for his father, "Drago" (angels, inner side of right biceps), M is meant for his own name, "Mario" and A for mother "Ankica" (right rib). On his back he has a big tattoo of another angel, which he describes as “watching my back”.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ NBA.com: Mario Kasun
  2. ^ KK Zagreb signs Mario Kasun to a one-year contract
  3. ^ InsideHoops.com - Mario Kasun Interview
  4. ^ Kasun goodbye Template:Hr icon
  5. ^ Kasun's tattoos Template:Hr icon

External links

Template:Croatia Squad 2005 EuroBasket Template:Croatia Squad 2007 EuroBasket Template:Croatia Squad 2009 EuroBasket

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