Former EuroBasket champ Gasper Vidmar announces career finale / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Fotodiena.lt/M.Baranauskas Credit Fotodiena.lt/M.Baranauskas

Gasper Vidmar confirmed that he has put an end to his professional sports career. The now 34-year-old center was one of the key players in Slovenia's gold-medal run at the 2017 EuroBasket.

3-pointers this season

31%8,5Points made:8,5Accuracy:30,8%Place in standings:14Record max:16Record min:3Most made 3FGs:Austin DayeTeamEuroCupStatisticsSchedule

Throughout his career, especially in recent years, he has struggled with injuries, which were also the basic reason for him to say goodbye to basketball courts.

Vidmar tried to return to practice in December for Umana Reyer Venezia, the club he had been playing with over the last three seasons, but the pain in his left knee was too severe.

"Only a few months ago I was hoping to play with Venezia in the second half of the season. I told the coach after the end of last season that I could no longer play the whole season, but maybe I would come back for the second part.

I got a call in December and tried to practice. But it was immediately clear that the knee no longer allowed it", Vidmar told Slovenian portal Dnevnik.

Gasper Vidmar turned professional in 2003. During his career, the Ljubljana player played for Janche, Slovan, and Olimpija in Slovenia, while also wearing the jerseys of Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Darussafaka, Banvit in Turkey, and Venezia in Italy.

With the Slovenian national team, he played 49 games, with the last one being in September 2018, against Turkey in Stozice. Vidmar logged 8 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and a steal in 33 minutes.

He played his last official match in June 2021, against AX Armani Exchange Milan. Venezia lost 83-93 and the 2,10-m center went scoreless in nine minutes of action.

"I ended my career. My knee is no longer in a state to endure daily efforts," he said in an interview, adding: "I am a man of a quiet nature and have never tried to come to the forefront. My family is aware of my decision, and so are my former teammates."

What the future holds, is still unknown. "I am currently helping my brother and father in a company that deals with the sale of advertising material. Then we'll see.

I don't see myself in basketball for now, but I certainly leave the door open to my return in another capacity in the future,” the now-retired center said.

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