Jiří Zídek, Junior., also known as George Zidek, is a Czechoslovakian retired basketball player and sports commentator.
Background
Zídek was born in Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia, now Zlin, Czechoslovakian Republic. His father, Jiří Zídek Senior, was a star for USK Slavia Prague in the 1960s and 1970s, leading them to victory in the 1969 European Cup Winners" Cup (one of the predecessors to today"s Eurocup).
Career
He played college basketball in the United States for the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins from 1991–1995. He then became the first Czechoslovakian player ever drafted into the National Basketball Association (National Basketball Association) when he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 1995 National Basketball Association draft. He played in the National Basketball Association for a total of three seasons and then played professionally in Europe before retiring in 2006.
In 1991 Zídek relocated to the United States to attend the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played on the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins men"s basketball team from 1991–1995.
While in America, he became known as "George Zidek", including on basketball cards. Zídek was the starting center of University of California, Los Angeles"s 1995 National Collegiate Athletic Association championship team
The 7-foot Zídek was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 1995 National Basketball Association Draft, with the 22nd overall pick. He was the first Czechoslovakian player ever drafted by an National Basketball Association team, followed by Jiří Welsch in 2002.
Zidek spent three seasons in the National Basketball Association, playing for the Hornets, the Denver Nuggets and the Seattle SuperSonics, averaging 3.4 ppg in his National Basketball Association career.
In 1998, he returned to Europe, joining former University of California, Los Angeles teammate Tyus Edney on Lithuanian power Žalgiris. He took the 2005-2006 season off to recuperate from knee surgery, and served at the end of the season as a Euroleague television commentator for the Euroleague Final Four, held in Prague. Due to ongoing health problems, he however never returned and in 2006 he announced his retirement.
He subsequently became a sports commentator for Euroleague.