Adrian Majstrovich Explained

Adrian Majstrovich
Position:Forward
Height Cm:201
Weight Kg:100
Nationality:New Zealand / Australian
Birth Date:1980 2, df=yes
Birth Place:Tūrangi, New Zealand
High School:Morley Senior
(Perth, Western Australia)
Lake Ginninderra
(Canberra, ACT)
Career Start:1996
Career End:2016
Years1:1996
Team1:East Perth Eagles
Years2:1997–1998
Team2:Australian Institute of Sport
Years3:1998–2000
Team3:Perth Wildcats
Years4:1999
Team4:East Perth Eagles
Years5:2001
Team5:Brisbane Bullets
Years6:2001
Team6:Launceston Tigers
Years7:2001–2002
Team7:TUS Jena
Years8:2002–2003
Team8:UBC St.Pölten
Years9:2003–2006
Team9:Hawke's Bay Hawks
Years10:2004–2005
Team10:Perth Wildcats
Years11:2005–2006
Team11:New Zealand Breakers
Years12:2006–2007
Team12:Adelaide 36ers
Years13:2007
Team13:Wellington Saints
Years14:2008
Team14:Auckland Stars
Years15:2008
Team15:U-Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca
Years16:2009–2010
Team16:Kalamunda Eastern Suns
Years17:2011–2012
Team17:Perth Redbacks
Years18:2013
Team18:Perry Lakes Hawks
Years19:2014
Team19:Goldfields Giants
Years20:2015
Team20:Southland Sharks
Years21:2016
Team21:Stirling Senators
Highlights:

Adrian "A. J." Majstrovich (born 9 February 1980) is a New Zealand-Australian former professional basketball player. He spent the majority of his 20-year career playing in the Australian NBL, New Zealand NBL and State Basketball League (SBL). He achieved the most success in New Zealand, winning two championships and earning the Rookie of the Year in 2003 and league MVP in 2004.

Early life and career

Majstrovich was born in Tūrangi, New Zealand, to Croatian parents, and was raised in Carnarvon, Western Australia, on his grandparents' banana plantation.[1] He later moved to Perth, where he attended Morley Senior High School.[2] In 1996, he made his SBL debut for the East Perth Eagles.[3] [4] In 1997, he moved to Canberra to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and play for the program's SEABL team.[5] He also represented Australia at Under 20 level from 1996 to 1999, making him ineligible for the Tall Blacks.

Professional career

Early ANBL years (1998–2001)

In 1998, Majstrovich joined the Perth Wildcats and made his Australian NBL debut. In 2000, he became an NBL champion, when the Wildcats defeated the Victoria Giants in the NBL Grand Final series. During the 1999 NBL off-season, he played for the East Perth Eagles.[6] During the 2000–01 NBL season, he joined the Brisbane Bullets and played four games.[7] Following the NBL season, he played for the Launceston Tigers in the SEABL.[8]

First overseas stint (2001–2003)

Between 2001 and 2003, he played one season in Germany for TUS Jena and one season in Austria for UBC St.Pölten.

Return to ANBL and first stint in NZNBL (2003–2008)

In 2003, Majstrovich made his debut in the New Zealand NBL for the Hawke's Bay Hawks. He was named Rookie of the Year in his first season before going on to earn the MVP award in 2004.[9] After returning to the Perth Wildcats for the 2004–05 season, Majstrovich returned to New Zealand in 2005 and played a third season for the Hawke's Bay Hawks, before joining the New Zealand Breakers for the 2005–06 NBL season.[10] [11] However, his debut season with the Breakers was cut short by a season-ending leg injury.[12]

After a championship-winning season with the Hawks in 2006,[13] [14] [15] Majstrovich joined the Adelaide 36ers for the 2006–07 NBL season.[16] In 2007, he joined the Wellington Saints.[17] In 2008, he joined the Auckland Stars.[18]

Romania (2008)

Following his season with the Auckland Stars, Majstrovich moved to Romania to play for Tab Baldwin at U-Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca.[19] His stint ended in December 2008 after appearing in three league games and two EuroChallenge games.

SBL and NZNBL (2009–2016)

In 2009, Majstrovich returned to Perth and joined the Kalamunda Eastern Suns of the State Basketball League.[20] He continued on with the Suns in 2010. In 2011 and 2012, he played for the Perth Redbacks, and in 2013, he played for the Perry Lakes Hawks.

For the 2014 season, Majstrovich initially joined the Nelson Giants in New Zealand,[21] but a foot injury ruled him for the duration of the campaign.[22] [23] In June 2014, he moved to Kalgoorlie and joined the Goldfields Giants for the rest of the SBL season.[24] [25]

In 2015, Majstrovich returned to New Zealand and helped the Southland Sharks win the NBL championship.[26] [27]

In 2016, Majstrovich played one final season in the SBL, this time with the Stirling Senators.[28] [29]

Personal

Majstrovich is the son of Maja and Ozren, and has an older brother named Ivan. Majstrovich is married to wife Jaime.

In 2009, Majstrovich returned to Perth to study for a career as a civil draughtsman.

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=3569090 Basketball: Family feel for 'local' Aussie
  2. http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-6713-0-0-0&sID=124321&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=23018815 Want to know more about your SBL Players?
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20140224054437/http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-sport/Majstrovich-shines-for-Suns/7541262/ Majstrovich shines for Suns
  4. http://www.foxsportspulse.com/club_info.cgi?c=1-5011-83386-0-0&sID=226311 1996 – East Perth Eagles
  5. News: Past Athletes. ausport.gov.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212073754/http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/sports/basketball/athletes/past_athletes. 12 February 2014. dead.
  6. http://www.foxsportspulse.com/club_info.cgi?c=1-5011-83386-0-0&sID=226312 1999 – East Perth Eagles
  7. http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=190394826&client=0-189-88250-125714-11145237 Player statistics for Adrian Majstrovich – NBL
  8. http://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=188582077&client=1-3363-126347-210261-16891396 Player statistics for Adrian Majstrovich – SEABL
  9. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=10923954 BASKETBALL: Majstrovich to see more of Kiwi life
  10. http://www.racingandsports.com.au/en/sports-basketball/nz-breakers-add-duo-to-nbl-list-story-64527 NZ Breakers add duo to NBL list
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20050618211821/http://nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=wildcats_newsdisplay&aid=1859 Breakers close on Majstrovich?
  12. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=10939253 Pedalling his way back to fitness
  13. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=10941771 BASKETBALL: Hawks' Aussie supporters
  14. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=10946807 BASKETBALL: Hawks in the dark over Majstrovich's shock departure
  15. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=10946968 BASKETBALL: Majstrovich: Why I've left
  16. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10381211 Basketball: Jets to fight Wellington for place in finals
  17. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222032216/http://tvnz.co.nz/content/960922/2422039.html Majstrovich to join Saints
  18. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222032213/http://tvnz.co.nz/content/1526769/2422039.xhtml Former MVP Majstrovich joins Stars
  19. https://romanialibera.ro/actualitate/proiecte-locale/tab-baldwin-aduce-jucatori-la-cluj-131076 Tab Baldwin aduce jucatori la Cluj
  20. http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-5011-0-0-0&sID=78732&articleID=8485369&news_task=DETAIL Suns Sign Majstrovich
  21. http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/9779143/Welcome-back-Majstrovich/ Welcome back, Majstrovich
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/20140407094327/http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/9886912/Vukona-answers-the-Giants-call Vukona answers the Giants' call
  23. http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/10022262/Injury-plagued-Majstrovich-out Injury-plagued Majstrovich out
  24. http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-5011-0-0-0&sID=78732&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=30011280 Majstrovich returns; Cougars, Senators sweat on Wolves (Week 13 Men's SBL Preview)
  25. https://web.archive.org/web/20140814010536/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/24196529/giants-lack-bite-against-wolves/ Giants lack bite against Wolves
  26. http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/63995561/Southland-Sharks-sign-former-Breaker-A-J-Majstrovich Southland Sharks sign former Breaker A J Majstrovich
  27. Web site: Hyslop. Liam. Southland Sharks beat Wellington Saints in tense NBL final. Stuff.co.nz. 5 July 2015. 5 July 2015.
  28. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306140057/http://www.stirlingsenators.com.au/latest-news-inner?newsid=NTc%3D AJ signs with Senators
  29. http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-5011-0-0-0&sID=78732&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=53504062 Senators look to make noise despite tough preparation