Marko Jarić


Marko Jarić is a Serbian former professional basketball player. Standing at 2.01 m, he mainly played the shooting guard position. He also represented the senior FR Yugoslavian national basketball team internationally. Jarić was an All-EuroLeague First Team member in 2002.

Early life

Jarić was born in Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia, the son of Srećko Jarić, a well-known Yugoslav professional basketball player, who played as a point guard for Radnički Belgrade, and was regarded by head basketball coach Dušan Ivković as, the "biggest talent that he ever had under his charge". Jarić began playing basketball with the youth teams of the Serbian club Red Star Belgrade.

Professional career

Europe

Jarić began his professional career in the 1996–97 season, with the Greek Basket League club Peristeri. With Peristeri, he played two seasons in the European-wide 3rd tier level FIBA Korać Cup. He then spent the next 4 seasons playing in Europe's top-tier level EuroLeague, with the Italian clubs Fortitudo Bologna and Virtus Bologna.
He became the first player ever to win back-to-back Italian League championships, on two teams. He won the Italian League championship in 2000, with Fortitudo Bologna, and in 2001, with Virtus Bologna.

NBA

Jarić was selected as the 30th overall draft pick, by the Los Angeles Clippers, in the 2000 NBA draft. After playing in 3 NBA seasons with the Clippers, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, on 12 August 2005, along with Lionel Chalmers, by the Clippers, in exchange for Sam Cassell and a future first-round draft pick. He was traded to the Grizzlies, on 26 June 2008, in an eight-player deal, involving rookie shooting guard O. J. Mayo, and rookie power forward Kevin Love.
For the 2009–10 NBA season, Jarić and the Memphis Grizzlies, mutually agreed that Jarić would not attend the team's training camp, or any of their preseason games. Jarić was granted permission to seek a new team, and a possible contract buyout, for the remaining 2 years and $15 million of his contract.

Back to Europe

After securing his release from the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, Jarić then signed with Spanish Liga ACB club Real Madrid, on 22 December 2009. On 14 January 2011, he signed with the Italian LBA club Montepaschi Siena, through the end of the 2010–11 season.

NBA comeback attempt

In October 2012, Jarić signed with the NBA's Chicago Bulls. However, he was waived on 24 October. In September 2013, he signed with the Brooklyn Nets. However, he was waived on 15 October. He then retired from playing professional basketball.

National team career

FR Yugoslavia junior national team

As a junior FR Yugoslavia national team player, Jarić won the gold medal at the 1998 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship.

FR Yugoslavia senior national team

As a member of the senior FR Yugoslavia national basketball team, Jarić won gold medals at both the 2001 EuroBasket and the 2002 FIBA World Championship. He also played with them at the 2003 EuroBasket and the 2005 EuroBasket. He represented the senior Serbian national basketball team at the 2007 EuroBasket.

Career statistics

†Denotes season in which Jarić won the EuroLeague

EuroLeague

Personal life

Jarić has an older sister named Tamara, and a younger brother named Nikola, who lives and plays basketball in Switzerland.
On 12 June 2008, Jarić became engaged to Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima. The couple wed in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA, on Valentine's Day 2009. They have two daughters. The couple announced their separation on 2 May 2014, after five years of marriage. The divorce was finalized in March 2016.
Jarić also holds Greek citizenship, under the name Marko Latsis, which was the name he played basketball under in Greece.