Robert Rothbart Explained

Robert Rothbart
Position:Center
Height Ft:7
Height In:1.5
Weight Lbs:230
League:Israeli National League
Team:Elitzur Ashkelon
Nationality:Bosnian / Israeli / American / Serbian
Birth Date:16 June 1986
Birth Place:Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina
SFR Yugoslavia
Draft Year:2005
Career Start:2004
Years1:2004–2006
Team1:Paris Racing
Years2:2006–2007
Team2:Hapoel Galil Elyon
Years3:2007–2008
Team3:Borac Nektar
Years4:2008–2009
Team4:Ironi Nahariya
Years5:2009–2010
Team5:Elitzur Maccabi Netanya
Years6:2010–2011
Team6:Maccabi Haifa
Years7:2011–2012
Team7:Union Olimpija
Years8:2012–2013
Team8:Start Gdynia
Years9:2013
Team9:Gamateks Pamukkale Üniversitesi
Years10:2014
Team10:Leotar
Years11:2014
Team11:Igokea
Years12:2014–2015
Team12:Ironi Nahariya
Years13:2015–2016
Team13:Hapoel Tel Aviv
Years14:2016–2017
Team14:Hapoel Eilat
Years15:2017–2018
Team15:Maccabi Kiryat Gat
Years16:2018
Team16:ESSM Le Portel
Years17:2018–2019
Team17:Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Years18:2019–present
Team18:Elitzur Eito Ashkelon
Highlights:

Robert Rothbart (Hebrew: רוברט רות'בארט, born Boris Kajmaković on June 16, 1986) is a Bosnian-Israeli professional basketball player playing the position of center for Elitzur Eito Ashkelon of the Israeli National League. He was named the Israeli Basketball Super League Most Improved Player in 2015.

Early life

Rothbart was born in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was at the time part of the former Yugoslavia. Due to the war, Robert and his family moved to Israel, where they stayed for two years before moving to the United States when he was eight years old.[1]

After graduating from The Harker School, a private elementary school in San Jose, California, Rothbart played high school basketball for Saint Francis High School (Mountain View, California), Monta Vista High School (Cupertino, California),[1] and Natomas High School (Sacramento, California).[2] During his stay in Sacramento, he was involved in the Serbian community and was mentored by Serbian-born NBA star Vlade Divac. Rothbart pulled out of the 2004 NBA draft before trying his luck a year later in the 2005 NBA draft, but he went undrafted.

Professional career

Although he initially committed to Indiana University, Rothbart decided in the summer of 2004 to skip college and play in Europe, where he's active today.

After two seasons with Paris Basket Racing in the French Pro A league and one season with Israeli club Hapoel Galil Elyon, Rothbart moved back to play in his birth country of Bosnia and Herzegovina to play for Borac Banja Luka in the local First League of Republika Srpska.

Prior to the 2008–09 season, he returned to the Israeli League, this time signing with Ironi Nahariya.

Prior to the 2009–10 season, Rothbart signed with Elitzur Maccabi Netanya B.C., with whom he reached the Israeli Basketball State Cup semi-finals.

In the summer of 2010, Rothbart signed to play for Maccabi Haifa.

In August 2011, Rothbart signed with Union Olimpija.[3]

Rothbart signed with Polish team Start Gdynia in 2012, Turkish team Gamateks Pamukkale Üniversitesi in 2013, and 2 Bosnian teams, Leotar and KK Igokea, in 2014.

In July 2015, Rothbart signed a 2-year deal with Hapoel Tel Aviv[4] after being named the Israeli League's Most Improved Player and MVP of the league's all-star game in the previous season.[5] He was named the Israeli Basketball Super League Most Improved Player in 2015.

In July 2016, Rothbart signed with Hapoel Eilat.[6]

On August 17, 2017, Rothbart signed with Maccabi Kiryat Gat, joining his former head coach Roi Hagai.[7] In 35 games played for Kiryat Gat, he averaged 18.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 blocks per game. Rothbart helped Kiryat Gat reach the Liga Leumit Finals, where they eventually lost to Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

On June 4, 2018, Rothbart returned to France for a second stint, signing a one-year deal with a second year option with ESSM Le Portel of the LNB Pro A league.[8] However, on November 11, Rothbart parted ways with Le Portel to join Hapoel Be'er Sheva for the rest of the season.[9]

On July 14, 2019, Rothbart signed a one-year deal with Elitzur Eito Ashkelon of the Israeli National League.[10]

Personal

Robert holds citizenship for a few countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, the United States of America, and Israel.[1] [5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rothbart Signs With Hoosiers. iuhoosiers.com.
  2. Web site: Robert Rothbart. yahoo.com.
  3. http://www.euroleague.net/euroleaguenews/transactions/2011-12-signings/i/87256/5611/union-olimpija-signs-big-rothbart UNION OLIMPIJA signs big Rothbart
  4. http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/israel/168355/hapoel-tel-aviv-signs-robert-rothbart-to-a-two-year-contract.html Hapoel Tel Aviv signs Robert Rothbart to a two-year contract
  5. News: Pick . Dubi . רשמי: רוברט רות'בארט חתם לשנתיים בהפועל ת"א . 10 January 2019 . . 12 July 2015.
  6. http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/israel/207381/robert-rothbat-signs-with-hapoel-eilat.html Robert Rothbat signs with Hapoel Eilat
  7. News: Robert Rothbart signed with Kiryat Gat. August 17, 2017. walla.co.il. August 17, 2017. he.
  8. News: Le Portel signs Robert Rothbart . June 6, 2018. Sportando.com. June 4, 2018.
  9. News: he:רוברט רות'בארט מצטרף לעולה החדשה . http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=19526. November 11, 2018. basket.co.il. November 11, 2018. he.
  10. News: רועי חגאי מונה למאמן אשקלון, רות'בארט חתם. July 14, 2019. ONE.co.il. July 14, 2019. he.