Grizzlies Shooting Guard Gordan Giricek to Contract
Memphis Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West announced today the Grizzlies have signed guard Gordan Giricek (pronounced Geh-ra-check) of CSKA Moscow in the Russian Super League to a contract. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not announced.
Giricek will participate in daily workouts Thursday and Friday in Los Angeles with the Grizzlies’ summer league team. Giricek’s first game appearance is expected to be the Grizzlies’ league opener at the Rocky Mountain Revue (RMR) in Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, July 20. The Grizzlies will play six games during July 20-27 at Salt Lake Community College. The schedule includes games against the Phoenix Suns, July 20; Portland Trail Blazers, Sunday, July 21; Cleveland Cavaliers, Tuesday, July 23; Utah Jazz, Wednesday, July 24; Chicago Bulls, Thursday, July 25; and Denver Nuggets, Saturday, July 27.
ESPN2 announced plans this week to broadcast two Grizzlies games live nationwide. ESPN2 will televise Grizzlies games versus the Cavaliers on Tuesday afternoon, July 23 at 1 p.m. CDT and versus the Bulls on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. CDT.
On June 28, the Grizzlies announced a trade of a second round selection in the 2004 NBA Draft and cash considerations to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Giricek’s Draft rights. Giracek, a 6-6 guard, was originally selected 40th overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1999 NBA Draft. The Spurs acquired Giricek and a future second round pick in a trade with the Mavericks on June 30, 1999 for forward Leon Smith (29th overall selection by Spurs in 1999 Draft).
“We feel that Giracek is a terrific, experienced player who has played professionally for a number of years,” said West. “He is a sharp-shooter who is athletic and will bring additional quality depth to our outside shooting positions.”
Giricek has played in the 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 Croatian League All-Star Games (named MVP of the 1998 and 2000 All-Star Games) and won three-point shooting contests all three seasons. During the 2001-2002 regular season, he averaged 22.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals per game for CSKA Moscow in the Euroleague, recognized as the top professional league in Europe. Giricek shot 52.8% overall from the field (149-282), 37.3% from three point range (31-83), and 80.7% in free throws (84-104).
Giricek, 25, began his professional career in 1989-90 with Jedinstvo Zagreb, a third division team in Croatia. He joined Cibona Zagreb of the Croatian Basketball League in 1993 and saw limited action until the 1997-98 season when he helped his team to the Croation National Championship by averaging 13.2 points, shooting .722 from the field and .415 from three-point range. Cibona Zagreb has won the Croation championship for five straight seasons (1997-2001). Giricek has won the silver medal at the 1994 Junior European Championship and is a member of the Croation National Team.