Adrian Majstrovich

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.

Adrian Majstrovich
Personal information
Born (1980-02-09) 9 February 1980
Tūrangi, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealand / Australian
Listed height201 cm (6 ft 7 in)
Listed weight100 kg (220 lb)
Career information
High schoolMorley Senior
(Perth, Western Australia)
Lake Ginninderra
(Canberra, ACT)
Playing career1996–2016
PositionForward
Career history
1996East Perth Eagles
1997–1998Australian Institute of Sport
1998–2000Perth Wildcats
1999East Perth Eagles
2001Brisbane Bullets
2001Launceston Tigers
2001–2002TUS Jena
2002–2003UBC St.Pölten
2003–2006Hawke's Bay Hawks
2004–2005Perth Wildcats
2005–2006New Zealand Breakers
2006–2007Adelaide 36ers
2007Wellington Saints
2008Auckland Stars
2008U Mobitelco Cluj
2009–2010Kalamunda Eastern Suns
2011–2012Perth Redbacks
2013Perry Lakes Hawks
2014Goldfields Giants
2015Southland Sharks
2016Stirling Senators
Career highlights and awards

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.[1]

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[1] 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.[1]

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.[9][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 CS Universitatea 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)
Majstrovich's 2009 All-Star Team trophy

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.[3] 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,[1] and has an older brother named Ivan.[1] Majstrovich is married to wife Jaime.[21]

In 2009, Majstrovich returned to Perth to study for a career as a civil draughtsman.[21][23]

References
  1. Basketball: Family feel for 'local' Aussie
  2. Want to know more about your SBL Players?
  3. Majstrovich shines for Suns
  4. 1996 – East Perth Eagles
  5. "Past Athletes". ausport.gov.au. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  6. 1999 – East Perth Eagles
  7. Player statistics for Adrian Majstrovich – NBL
  8. Player statistics for Adrian Majstrovich – SEABL
  9. BASKETBALL: Majstrovich to see more of Kiwi life
  10. NZ Breakers add duo to NBL list
  11. Breakers close on Majstrovich?
  12. Pedalling his way back to fitness
  13. BASKETBALL: Hawks' Aussie supporters
  14. BASKETBALL: Hawks in the dark over Majstrovich's shock departure
  15. BASKETBALL: Majstrovich: Why I've left
  16. Basketball: Jets to fight Wellington for place in finals
  17. Majstrovich to join Saints
  18. Former MVP Majstrovich joins Stars
  19. Tab Baldwin aduce jucatori la Cluj (in Romanian)
  20. Suns Sign Majstrovich
  21. Welcome back, Majstrovich
  22. Vukona answers the Giants' call
  23. Injury-plagued Majstrovich out
  24. Majstrovich returns; Cougars, Senators sweat on Wolves (Week 13 Men's SBL Preview)
  25. Giants lack bite against Wolves
  26. Southland Sharks sign former Breaker A J Majstrovich
  27. Hyslop, Liam (5 July 2015). "Southland Sharks beat Wellington Saints in tense NBL final". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  28. AJ signs with Senators
  29. Senators look to make noise despite tough preparation
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