Mirza Teletović facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mirza Teletović
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Teletović with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2016
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| President of the Basketball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office October 20, 2018 – June 8, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Sejo Bukva | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Boris Spasojević | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | September 18, 1985 Jablanica, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia |
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| Nationality | Bosnian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mirza Teletović (born September 18, 1985) is a former professional basketball player from Bosnia. He was also the president of the Basketball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2018 to 2022. As a player, he spent six seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played for and was the captain of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national basketball team. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m) tall, he played as a power forward.
Mirza Teletović began his basketball journey in Bosnia with Sloboda Tuzla. He then played in Belgium for Oostende. He spent six years with Saski Baskonia in Spain, where he won two Liga ACB championships. In 2012, he was named to the All-ACB Team. After his time in Europe, he played five seasons in the NBA for the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, and Milwaukee Bucks. On September 27, 2018, Teletović announced he was retiring from basketball. This decision came after he suffered a serious health issue called a pulmonary embolism (blood clots in his lungs) while playing for the Bucks. He briefly returned to play for KK Turbina in 2021.
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Dreams
Mirza Teletović grew up in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War in the 1990s. His parents are from Jablanica. He spent his childhood in Mostar, a city that faced a long siege during the war.
Mirza shared how tough it was during the war. He was only seven when it started. He remembered seeing less food and hearing loud explosions. People around him were often hurt or died. He once asked his mother if anyone was still alive. It was a very difficult time, but he found comfort in basketball. He would play on a local court near his home. He said he would do anything for basketball, even if it meant risking his life.
As a young boy, Mirza also tried soccer, kickboxing, and karate. But basketball was always his favorite sport.
Professional Basketball Journey
Mirza Teletović played for several teams in Europe before joining the NBA.
Playing in Europe
Sloboda Tuzla (2002–2004)
Mirza started his professional career with OKK Sloboda Tuzla in Bosnia during the 2002–03 season. In his first year, he averaged 7.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. In his second season, his performance greatly improved, with averages of 26.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Telindus Oostende (2004–2006)
In 2004, Teletović moved to Belgium to play for Telindus Oostende. He stayed there for two seasons. During this time, he also played in the ULEB Cup, a European competition, where he averaged 6.7 points and 2 rebounds.
Saski Baskonia (2006–2012)
In 2006, Mirza joined Saski Baskonia in Spain, a top team in the EuroLeague. He played his first game in the Spanish League on October 1, 2006. In his first EuroLeague season, he averaged 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He was eligible for the 2007 NBA draft but was not chosen by any team.
Over the next three seasons, he became a key player and even the captain of Baskonia. In 2008, he won the Spanish League Rising Star Award. In 2009, he was named the MVP of the Spanish King's Cup tournament.
In the 2011–12 Euroleague season, he had his best performance, averaging 21.7 points and 6 rebounds per game. In June 2012, Teletović left Baskonia to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA.
NBA Career
Brooklyn Nets (2012–2015)
On July 16, 2012, Mirza Teletović signed a three-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets. He played his first NBA game on November 5, 2012. On January 24, 2014, he scored a career-high 34 points in a win against the Dallas Mavericks.
In January 2015, he was diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary embolus, which are blood clots in both lungs. This serious condition meant he had to miss the rest of the 2014–15 season. However, he made an earlier return than expected in April 2015 for the Nets' playoff series.
Phoenix Suns (2015–2016)
On July 17, 2015, Teletović signed a one-year contract with the Phoenix Suns. On November 29, he scored a season-high 20 points. He continued to have strong performances, including scoring 30 points against his former team, the Brooklyn Nets, on February 25, 2016.
During his time with the Suns, Teletović set a team record for the most three-pointers made by a player coming off the bench in a single season. He then broke an NBA record for the most three-pointers made off the bench in a single season, with 179. This record was later broken by another player.
Milwaukee Bucks (2016–2018)
On July 8, 2016, Teletović signed a three-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. On November 5, 2016, he scored 22 points and made seven three-pointers, matching his career high.
In November 2017, he had surgery on his left knee. Then, on December 14, 2017, he was sidelined again due to more blood clots in both lungs. This condition was discovered after he felt unusually tired. On March 10, 2018, the Bucks released him from his contract. The NBA later agreed that his injury was career-ending.
Retirement and Return
On September 27, 2018, Mirza Teletović announced his retirement from professional basketball. He then began working at the Basketball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, he briefly came out of retirement in 2021 to play for a local team called KK Turbina.
National Team Career
Mirza Teletović proudly played for the national basketball team of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He represented his country in several major tournaments, including EuroBasket 2003, EuroBasket 2005, EuroBasket 2011, and EuroBasket 2013.
In the EuroBasket 2013 tournament, Teletović was a standout player. He averaged 21.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, which were his career highs for the EuroBasket competition. Even though Bosnia and Herzegovina had a good record, they did not advance to the next round.
Personal Life
Mirza Teletović is a Bosniak. He is married to Maja, and they have four children together.
Awards and Accomplishments
Mirza Teletović achieved many honors during his basketball career:
Club Honours
- Belgian League Champion: (2006)
- 3× Spanish Supercup Winner: (2006, 2007, 2008)
- 2× Spanish ACB League Champion: (2008, 2010)
- Spanish King's Cup Winner: (2009)
Individual Awards
- ACB Rising Star Award: (2008)
- Spanish King's Cup MVP: (2009)
- All-ACB Team: (2012)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Sportsperson of the Year (2012)
NBA Record
- Most three-pointers made while coming off the bench in a single season (179) in 2016. This record was later broken by another player.
See also
In Spanish: Mirza Teletović para niños
- List of European basketball players in the United States
