At the age of 78, the legendary basketball player Jiří Zídek Sr. died. The winner of the Czech Basketball Player of the 20th Century poll and the first Czech to be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame succumbed to a long illness. The Czech Basketball Federation informed about it on its website.
“Czech basketball is shrouded in grief today. A real giant has left, who will forever remain one of the most important basketball personalities,” the federation said.
The native of Prague played the top in the years 1962 – 1979 and was one of the best pivots of his time. He won silver and bronze with the Czechoslovak national team at the European Championships. He was the league champion with Slavia University of Prague six times and in 1966 he played in the finals of the European Champions Cup. Three years later, he won the National Cup Winners’ Cup.
Zídek has competed in six European and two world championships. In 1972, he finished eighth with the team at the Munich Olympics and was the top scorer of the national team. He played a total of 257 matches in the national team. He was twice voted the best Czechoslovak basketball player and holds the league shooting record.
“I feel terrible sadness. All the moments when I had the opportunity to get to know Mr. Zídek passed through my head. I watched him myself as a boy. He was a legend not only in Czechoslovak but also in European and world basketball.
Zídek, who was known in basketball circles under the nickname Andrej, could also become the first Czech to play in the NBA. However, due to the complications associated with life in communist Czechoslovakia, he failed. His son Jiří Zídek Jr. later reached this goal.
“He may have been one of the first best-earning Europeans in the NBA, but he preferred his country and family. It’s amazing that this happened to his son. His family leaves a deep mark on Czech basketball,” Jansta added.
After the end of his playing career, Zídek Sr. worked as a coach.
In 2001, he was declared a Czechoslovak basketball player of the 20th century and was the only Czech to be nominated among the 50 most important personalities of the Euroleague seven years later. In 2013, he was inducted into the ČBF Hall of Fame, and during the 2019 World Championships, he became the first Czech to become a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame.
“The Czech Basketball Federation expresses its sincere condolences to the family and thanks Andrej Zídek for everything he has done for Czechoslovak and Czech basketball,” the Czech Basketball Federation added.
–
