Karlo Matković Explained

Karlo Matković
Position:Center / power forward
Height Ft:6
Height In:10
Weight Lbs:253
League:NBA
Team:New Orleans Pelicans
Draft Year:2022
Draft Round:2
Draft Pick:52
Draft Team:New Orleans Pelicans
Birth Date:30 March 2001
Birth Place:Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nationality:Croatian / Bosnian
Career Start:2018
Years1:2018–2024
Team1:Cedevita / Cedevita Olimpija
Years2:2019–2020
Team2:OKK Beograd
Years3:2020–2022
Team3:Mega Basket
Years4:2024
Team4:Birmingham Squadron
Years5:–present
Team5:New Orleans Pelicans
Highlights:

Karlo Matković (born 30 March 2001) is a Croatian professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He represents the Croatia national team internationally.

Early career

In 2017, Matković participated in the Jordan Brand Classic camp. In August 2018, he participated at the Basketball Without Borders Europe camp in Belgrade, Serbia, representing Bosnia and Herzegovina.[1]

Professional career

Europe (2018–2024)

During the 2018–19 Croatian League season, Matković was promoted to the Cedevita senior team. In April 2019, he signed his first professional contract for Cedevita.[2] In September 2019, he was loaned to OKK Beograd for the 2019–20 Serbian League season.[3] [4] In August 2020, he was loaned to Mega Soccerbet for the 2020–21 ABA season.[5] Following the 2020–21 season, Matković declared for the 2021 NBA draft, but withdrew his name from consideration on July 19, 2021.[6]

After declaring for the 2022 NBA draft in April 2022,[7] Matković was selected with the 52nd overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans[8] and joined them for the 2022 NBA Summer League.[9] However, he didn't join the Pelicans for the 2022–23 NBA season[10] [11] and on 23 July, he joined Cedevita Olimpija.[12] [13]

On 4 February 2024, Matković left Cedevita.[14]

Birmingham Squadron (2024)

On 22 February, Matković joined the Birmingham Squadron of the NBA G League.[15]

New Orleans Pelicans (2024–present)

On 14 July 2024, Matković signed with the New Orleans Pelicans.[16]

National team career

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Matković was born to a Croat family in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was a member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina under-18 team at the 2018 FIBA U18 European Championship in Latvia. Over seven tournament games, he averaged 8.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.[17] His team finished the last at the tournament with a 0–7 record.

Croatia

In November 2021, Matković expressed his interest to represent Croatia internationally in the senior competitions, if called.[18] He made his debut for Croatia in February 2022, in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers match against Sweden.[19]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bjelica, Bogdanovic, Harris, Jokic, Kaminsky, Marjanovic and Vucevic headline Basketball Without Borders Europe 2018. NBA.com. 14 August 2018. 30 September 2020.
  2. Web site: Karlo Matković potpisao prvi profesionalni ugovor s Cedevitom. Basketball.hr. 30 April 2019. 30 September 2020. Croatian.
  3. Web site: Veliki talent hrvatske košarke odlazi u beogradski klub. Germanijak.hr. 8 August 2019. 30 September 2020. Croatian.
  4. Web site: Karlo Matković novi igrač OKK Beograd. SportSport.ba. 8 August 2019. 30 September 2020. Croatian.
  5. Web site: Karlo Matković 17 Krilni centar/Centar. BCMegabasket.net. 30 September 2020. Bosnian.
  6. Web site: NBA announces 51 early entry candidates withdraw from 2021 Draft. NBA.com. July 20, 2021. 21 July 2021.
  7. Web site: Četvorica hrvatskih košarkaša prijavila su se za NBA draft. Index.hr. 27 April 2022. 28 April 2022. Croatian.
  8. News: New Orleans Pelicans select E.J. Liddell and Karlo Matkovic in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft. NBA.com. 24 June 2022. 4 February 2024.
  9. Web site: New Orleans Pelicans 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster. NBA.com. 9 July 2022.
  10. Web site: Pelikansi odabrali Matkovića tokom reklame za slatkiše, moraće još da čeka na šansu u NBA. MozzartSport.com. 24 June 2022. 24 June 2022. Bosnian.
  11. Web site: Ken. Trahan. Pelicans take step forward, literally, in draft. CrescentCitySports.com. 23 June 2022. 24 June 2022.
  12. Web site: Birali ga Pelikansi – stiže u Cedevita Olimpiju. b92.net. 23 July 2022. 23 July 2022. Serbian.
  13. Web site: Cedevita adds Matkovic to the mix. EuroleagueBasketball.net. 23 July 2022. 23 July 2022.
  14. Web site: Karlo Matkovic officially leaves Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana for the NBA. EuroHoops.net. 4 February 2024. 4 February 2024.
  15. Web site: Birmingham Squadron Announce Addition of Karlo Matkovic. OurSportsCentral.com. 22 February 2024. 22 February 2024.
  16. Web site: New Orleans Pelicans sign Karlo Matković. NBA.com. 14 July 2024. 14 July 2024.
  17. Web site: U18 BH 2018 - Karlo MATKOVIĆ. FIBA.basketball. 30 September 2020.
  18. Web site: Hrvat koji igra u Beogradu odigrao senzacionalnu utakmicu! Ima samo 20 godina i želi dres Hrvatske. Sportske.jutarnji.hr. 7 November 2021. 10 November 2021. Croatian.
  19. Web site: Nova bruka hrvatskih košarkaša: Damir Mulaomerović neuspješan na debiju. SportSport.ba. 25 February 2022. 1 March 2022. Bosnian.