Gordan Giriček
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| Position | Shooting guard |
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| Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Weight | 222 lb (101 kg) |
| Team | Phoenix Suns |
| Jersey | #2 |
| Born | June 20, 1977 Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Nationality | Croatian |
| Draft | 2nd round, 40th overall, 1999 Dallas Mavericks |
| Pro career | 1993–present |
| Former teams | Cibona Zagreb (1993–2001) CSKA Moscow (2001–2002) Memphis Grizzlies (2002–2003) Orlando Magic (2003–2004) Utah Jazz (2004–2007) Philadelphia 76ers (2007–2008) |
Gordan Giriček (born June 20, 1977, in Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Croatian professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA. Previously, he played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz and most recently the Philadelphia 76ers. His nickname is Gira.[1]
The 6'6" (1.98 m) shooting guard started his career with the youth section of a small local club in Zagreb called Jedinstvo. Later on, he joined Zagreb club Cibona, and while playing there he was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round (40th pick overall) in the 1999 NBA Draft and traded by the Mavericks to the San Antonio Spurs for Leon Smith. However, he never played for the Spurs, who traded his draft rights to the Grizzlies for a second-round pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. He stayed in Croatia until 2001, when he signed with Russian power CSKA Moscow, playing the 2001-02 season there.
He came to the US in 2002, scoring 29 points in his first NBA game with the Memphis Grizzlies. During the 2002-03 season, he was traded by Memphis, with Drew Gooden, to the Orlando Magic for Mike Miller, Ryan Humphrey, a future first-round draft pick and a future second-round draft pick. He ended that season on the NBA's All-Rookie second team. During the 2003-04 season, he was traded yet again, this time by Orlando to the Utah Jazz for DeShawn Stevenson and a future second-round draft pick.
With Utah, his main role was that of a shooting threat off the bench; he was also a part-time starter. He had also emerged as a competent defender.
He was traded from the Jazz to the Philadelphia 76ers on December 26, 2007[2] for Kyle Korver and a future first-round draft pick from the Jazz[3], after a falling-out with coach Jerry Sloan.[4] Giriček had been having issues with Sloan for a few games. Against the Charlotte Bobcats, Giriček made a bad pass and was pulled from the game. Player and coach got in an argument which escalated to the point of Sloan sending Giriček to the locker room. He was later sent back to Salt Lake City, and did not participate in the games against the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat. On February 29, 2008, he was waived by the 76ers.[5] On March 4, the Phoenix Suns signed Giriček for the remainder of the season.[2]
[edit] Personal life
In December 2003 Giriček married his long-time girlfriend Nataša Gulan, in Orlando, Florida. In February 2004 Nataša gave birth to their first and only child, a girl which they named Lara. In July 2004 Giriček signed a contract with the Jazz worth $16 million through 4 years. At that time, Giriček asked his wife to sign a prenuptial agreement. His lawyers specified that in case of a divorce, his wife would get the total salaries that she would have earned if she was to stay at VIPnet, a company in which she worked before meeting his husband. Gulan refused to sign the agreement and, in August, Giriček decided to file for divorce after his wife had left him and moved to her mother's house with their child, with Gulan demanding $1.5 million.
In February 2007, a court in Croatia decided that Giriček's wife was to get $102,500.[6] Giriček pays $1,500 each month child support for their baby girl. During court trial his wife's lawyer wrote to Giriček's present and past clubs, requesting information about the player's earnings but, as such information was not demanded by Croatian courts, it was never disclosed by any team. In July 2007, he decided not to join the Croatian national basketball team for the upcoming European championship because of dissidence with his ex-wife, as Gulan did not honor a child visiting agreement ordered by court, by which the Phoenix Sun was to be with Lara during July, thus arriving on time for national team pre-tournament camp. Gulan argued that she got her holiday period at that time and that it was unchangeable, also wanting to spend time with her daughter.[7]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Article on Giriček (Croatian)
- ^ a b Suns sign guard Giricek for rest of season
- ^ NBA.com: Sixers Trade Korver to Jazz for Giriček, Future First-Rounder
- ^ Jazz deal Giricek, first-round pick for 3-point specialist Korver
- ^ 76ers cut veteran guard Giricek after 12-game stay
- ^ Giriček to pay ex-wife (Croatian)
- ^ Giriček's ex-wife responds to accusations of dishonoring court order (Croatian)
[edit] External links
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