Gerald Kazanowski

Kazanowski was a member of Canada's national basketball team from 1970-1990.[1][2] He began his tenure on the Canadian national team in 1979 while playing in the FIBA Junior World Championship.[3][4][5][7]

He represented Canada in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Kazanowski obtained the second-highest points-per-game average among Canada's roster in 1984.[1][2]

These 1984 Olympics were also notable given that Canada finished 4th overall, narrowly missing a medal.[4] Also, this 1984 bronze-medal game constituted the only time in the past 80+ years where Canada has had a legitimate chance of winning an Olympic medal in basketball.[9] This bronze medal game was highly competitive, being tied 18 times with 12 lead changes, with Canada being within one point with less than a minute of play remaining.[9] Kazanowski played well in this crucial game, scoring 8 points, grabbing 6 rebounds and playing his usual formidible defense.[9] Canada also performed well in the 1988 Olympics, where they finished 6th overall.[4]

Kazanowski also represented Canada in three World Student Games tournaments (1981, 1983 and 1985).[1][2][3][4][5][7][8] Canada won the gold medal in these 1983 games, defeating the US in the semi-final match (with the US being led by future NBA legends Charles Barkley and Karl Malone).[1][2][3][8] This constituted one of the finest moments in Canadian basketball history, being the only time in which Canada has won the gold medal in an international basketball tournament.[10] In the 1985 World Student Games, Canada won the bronze medal[11][12] and in 1981, Canada placed 5th.[13]

Kazanowski also represented Canada in 3 FIBA World Championships (1982, 1986, 1990)[2][3][4][5][7] and competed against the US's "Dream Team" in the 1992 FIBA Tournament of the Americas.[3][5]

In 1983, Kazanowski was drafted in the seventh round in the NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz.[3][4][5][8] From 1984-1992 he played professionally for international teams,[4][5][7][8] including in Spain (for Joventut and Baloncesto León), in Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Argentina and Mexico.[3][4]

Kazanowski played for the University of Victoria from 1979-1983.[1][2][3] He was a four-time national champion at UVic.[1][2][4][5][7][8] In his first year at UVic, he and his teammates placed second in the national tournament.[3] In the 1979-80 season, Kazanowski and his teammates had a 20-0 regular season record,[14] the first Canada West basketball team to achieve a perfect regular season record.[15]

During his time at UVic, Kazanowski was a three-time CIAU All-Canadian,[1][3][4][5][7][8] two-time recipient of the Premier's Athletic Award,[1][3][4][5][7][8] two-time CIAU Tournament All-Star[2] and four-time Canada West All-Star.[1]

Kazanowski was inducted in the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame (2005),[2][3][5][7] the Basketball BC Sports Hall of Fame (2006),[1] the University of Victoria Sports Hall of Fame (2006),[2] the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame (2016),[3] the Nanaimo Sports Hall of Fame (2008)[4] and the Nanaimo District Secondary School Hall of Fame.[8] In 2011, the University of Victoria retired his number 24;[3][5] Kazanowski is only one of three athletes thus honored.[12]

Also, the 1979-80 University of Victoria men's basketball team was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame (2020)[14] and the 1979-86 UVic men's basketball teams were inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame,[15] with Kazanowski being recognized as a team member in these inductions.[14] [15]

Kazanowski was born on October 12, 1960[7] to polish immigrants.[3] He began playing basketball in his hometown of Nanaimo, B.C., in grade six.[2][3][4][5]

He graduated from UVic with a degree in economics[3][4][5][6] and is now a certified financial advisor.[5][6]

Kazanowski met his wife of 20+ years, Claudia, while he was playing professionally in Mexico.[3][5] He retired from professional basketball in 1992 and by 1993, he was immersed in the financial advisory industry.[3] His office is located in Sidney and he lives in North Saanich with his wife and their two daughters, Sarah and Grace.[3][4][5]

He now gives back to the community as much as he can; he often volunteers at local schools to provide speaking addresses on how sports can be a positive influence, while also providing advice to older students on how to start thinking about their finances early.[2][3][5] Additionally, Kazanowski and his family are involved with the ROCK home makeover project for disadvantaged homeowners on the Saanich Peninsula.[2][5]

• basketball.bc.ca
• www.tsn.ca
• www.fiba.com
• www.angelfire.com
• Canadian Olympic Committee webpage profile (with photos)
• www.elpais.com