George Zidek
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
2 August 1973 Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia |
| Nationality | Czech |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Arabska Secondary |
| College | UCLA (1991–1995) |
| NBA draft | 1995 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22nd overall |
| Selected by the Charlotte Hornets | |
| Playing career | 1995–2005 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 25, 52 |
| Career history | |
| 1995–1997 | Charlotte Hornets |
| 1997–1998 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1998 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1998–2000 | Žalgiris |
| 2000 | Fenerbahçe |
| 2000–2001 | Real Madrid |
| 2001–2002 | Alba Berlin |
| 2002–2003 | Prokom Trefl Sopot |
| 2003–2005 | ČEZ Nymburk |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 453 (3.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 286 (2.1 rpg) |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Jiří Zídek, Jr., also known as George Zidek (born 2 August 1973), is a Czech retired professional basketball player and sports commentator. He played college basketball in the United States for the UCLA Bruins from 1991–1995. He then became the first Czech player ever drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA), when he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft. He played in the NBA for a total of three seasons and then played professionally in Europe, before retiring in 2006.
Zídek was born in Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia, now Zlin, Czech Republic. His father, Jiří Zídek Sr., was a star for USK Slavia Prague in the 1960s and 1970s, leading them to victory in the European 2nd-tier level 1968–69 season's European Cup Winners' Cup (one of the predecessor league's to today's EuroCup). The Zideks are the first (and as of 2010, the only) father and son ever to reach EuroLeague Finals game.
In 1991, Zídek relocated to the United States, to attend the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played on the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team from 1991–1995. While in America, he became known as George. Zídek was the starting center of UCLA's 1995 NCAA championship team.
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