Željko Šakić Explained

Željko Šakić
Position:Power forward
Team:Free Agent
Height Ft:6
Height In:8
Weight Lb:234
Nationality:Croatian
Birth Date:14 April 1988
Birth Place:Zagreb, SR Croatia,
SFR Yugoslavia
Draft Year:2010
Career Start:2006
Years1:2006–2007
Team1:Kaptol
Years2:2007–2010
Team2:Dubrava
Years3:2010–2011
Team3:Zrinjski Mostar
Years4:2011–2013
Team4:Široki
Years5:2013–2014
Team5:Sutor Montegranaro
Years6:2014–2015
Team6:Manresa
Years7:2015–2016
Team7:Lukoil Academic
Years8:2016–2017
Team8:Cibona
Years9:2017–2018
Team9:U-BT Cluj-Napoca
Years10:2018–2019
Team10:Stelmet Zielona Góra
Years11:2019–2020
Team11:Lietkabelis Panevėžys
Years12:2020–2021
Team12:Avtodor
Years13:2021
Team13:Estudiantes
Years14:2021–2022
Team14:Avtodor
Years15:2022
Team15:UNICS
Years16:2022–2023
Team16:Lietkabelis Panevėžys
Years17:2023–2024
Team17:Tofaş
Highlights:

Željko Šakić (born April 14, 1988) is a Croatian professional basketball player who last played for Tofaş of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). Standing at, he plays the power forward position.

Professional career

Šakić started playing basketball in the Cibona youth systems but never got an opportunity to play for the senior squad. After he almost quit basketball, in 2007 he got an offer from another club from Zagreb, Dubrava where he spent the next 3 seasons.[1] After that he spent 3 seasons in the Bosnian League and then moved to Sutor Montegranaro of the Italian League. He spent the 2014–15 season in Manresa of the Spanish League earning the 4th week Player of the Week award.

In August 2015 he moved to the Bulgarian champion Lukoil Academic.[2]

On June 29, 2016, Šakić signed with Cibona.[3] After a season spent playing in the Romanian League for U-BT Cluj-Napoca, in September 2018 he moved to the Polish side Stelmet Zielona Góra.[4]

On 10 July 2019, Šakić signed a one-year deal with Lietkabelis Panevėžys of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).[5]

On June 25, 2020, he has signed with Avtodor of the VTB United League.[6]

In March, 2022, Šakić signed with UNICS for the rest of the season.[7]

On 24 July 2022, Šakić returned to Lietkabelis Panevėžys for a second stint, signing a two-year (1+1) deal.[8] On 1 July 2023, he parted ways with the club.[9]

On July 11, 2023, he signed with Tofaş of Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).[10]

Croatian national team

Šakić was part of the Croatian national team youth selections. He was one of the leading Croatian players at the 2006 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, but to play with the senior team he had to wait for the 2015 EuroBasket preparation games. At the age of 27, he was the oldest debutant in the history of the Croatian national basketball team.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Željko Šakić je najstariji debitant za Hrvatsku. 20 August 2015. hercegovina.info. 22 July 2015. Croatian.
  2. News: Željko Šakić nakon sezone u Manresi preselio u redove najboljeg bugarskog kluba. 20 August 2015. sportnet.hr. 14 August 2015. Croatian.
  3. News: Cibona tabs Zeljko Sakic. 29 June 2016. Sportando.com. 29 June 2016.
  4. News: Željko Šakić s Ciboninih treninga u Poljsku. basketball.hr. 12 September 2018. Croatian.
  5. Web site: Sunkiojo krašto puolėjo poziciją stiprina kroatas. kklietkabelis.lt. lt. 10 July 2019. 1 July 2023.
  6. News: Avtodor Saratov signs Zeljko Sakic. 25 June 2020. Sportando. En. 25 June 2020. Carchia . Emiliano .
  7. News: Hrvatska kolonija u ruskom Kazanju se povećala; reprezentativac Željko Šakić pridružio se Mariju Hezonji i trenerskom tandemu. vtportal.hrecernji.hr. 22 March 2022. 23 March 2022. Croatian.
  8. Web site: Lietkabelis brings back forward Sakic. EuroLeague. 24 July 2022. 1 July 2023.
  9. Web site: "7bet-Lietkabelis" atsisveikino su Šakičiumi. basketnews.lt. lt. 1 July 2023. 1 July 2023.
  10. Web site: Zeljko Sakic Tofaş'ta. July 11, 2023. tofasspor.com. tr. July 11, 2023.
  11. News: Novi Perasov adut: Željko Šakić je najstariji debitant za Hrvatsku. vecernji.hr. 21 July 2015. 13 March 2022. Croatian.