Marko Kešelj

Marko Kešelj (Serbian Cyrillic: Марко Кешељ, born January 2, 1988) is a Serbian retired professional basketball player who is a presidency member of Crvena zvezda. He represented the Serbian national team in the international competitions. He is a 2.08 m (6'10") tall small forward.[1]

Marko Kešelj
Kešelj with Crvena zvezda in 2017
Crvena zvezda mts
PositionPresidency member
LeagueBasketball League of Serbia
Adriatic League
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1988-01-02) January 2, 1988
Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalitySerbian
Listed height2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
Listed weight94 kg (207 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2010 / Undrafted
Playing career2004–2019
PositionSmall forward
Number4, 6, 10
Career history
2004–2006Avala Ada / Mega Ishrana
2006–2007Akasvayu Girona
2007–2008Köln 99ers
2008–2010Crvena zvezda
2010–2012Olympiacos
2012–2013Valencia
2013Le Mans Sarthe
2013–2014ASVEL Basket
2014–2015Mega Vizura / Leks
2016Lavrio
2016–2017Oostende
2017–2019Crvena zvezda
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Serbia
Universiade
2009 BelgradeNational Team
U20 European Championship
2008 Latvia U20 National Team
U19 World Championship
2007 SerbiaU19 National Team

Professional career

Kešelj started his career in his hometown with a club called Mega Ishrana. Despite his young age, Kešelj already has the experience of playing for two top-quality foreign clubs, the Spanish ACB League club Akasvayu Girona and the German League club Köln 99ers. During the summer of 2006, his talents were spotted by Serbian coach Svetislav Pešić, who brought him to Girona in the Spanish ACB League at the age of 18.

However, Kešelj could not establish himself in the squad and got very little playing time. In the summer of 2007, he transferred to the German League to the Köln 99ers, which were led by another Serbian coach, Saša Obradović. Following a so-so season, Obradović left to coach Kiev, and Kešelj also started looking for a transfer.

Upon rumors that Pešić, his mentor from his Girona days, might be taking over Crvena zvezda, Keselj decided to sign with the club during the summer of 2008, even before Pešić's arrival had become official. In 2010, he signed a 3-year contract with the Greek League club Olympiacos.[2] With Olympiacos, he won the EuroLeague and Greek League championships in 2012.[3]

On August 14, 2012, Kešelj signed one-year contract with Valencia.[4] On February 5, 2013, he left Valencia and signed with Le Mans Sarthe Basket for the rest of the season.[5] On August 8, 2013, he signed a one-year contract with ASVEL Basket.[6]

On October 14, 2014, he signed an open contract with the Serbian team Mega Vizura.[7] On June 17, 2015, it was confirmed that Kešelj will play with the Portland Trail Blazers at the 2015 NBA Summer League.[8]

On January 6, 2016, Kešelj signed with the Greek club Lavrio for the rest of the 2015–16 Greek Basket League season.[9] On September 18, 2016, Kešelj signed with Belgian club Telenet Oostende.[10]

On July 28, 2017, Kešelj returned to Crvena zvezda, signing a two-year deal.[11] On January 4, 2019, he scored 20 points for the night and his 1,000th point for the Zvezda.[12][13]

National team career

Kešelj was a member of the Serbian junior national teams, and he played at the 2007 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Novi Sad and at the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. Kešelj was also a member of the senior Serbian national team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, where Serbia was defeated by Lithuania, in the game for the bronze medal. He was also capped for the national team of Serbia at the EuroBasket 2011, in Lithuania, where Serbia finished in 8th place.

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the player participated for the team during the season. He also played in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.

† Denotes seasons in which Kešelj won the EuroLeague

EuroLeague
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2010–11 Olympiacos 12312.3.476.435.5001.0.2.3.33.82.1
2011–12† Olympiacos 14815.7.396.270.6002.0.3.4.03.92.4
Career 261114.1.425.333.5381.5.2.4.13.92.3

Post-playing career

In August 2020, Kešelj was appointed as a presidency member of Crvena zvezda in charge of the sport issues.[14]

Personal life

Kešelj owns and operates a blueberry orchard.[15]

See also

References
  1. KESELJ, MARKO HEIGHT: 2.08.
  2. Skountis, Vassilis. "OLYMPIACOS adds talent with Keselj". Euroleague.net. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  3. Woods, Mark. "OLYMPIAKOS STUN CSKA FOR EUROLEAGUE CROWN". mvp247.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  4. "Valencia tabs Marko Keselj". Sportando. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  5. "Marko Keselj dissatisfied with playing time, moves to Le Mans". court-side.com. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  6. "ASVEL VILLEURBANNE inks forward Keselj". Eurocupbasketball.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  7. "VELIKO POJAČANJE ZA MEGA VIZURU! KEŠELJ DEBITUJE PROTIV CRVENE ZVEZDE!!". .bcmegabasket.net (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  8. "Marko Keselj will play the NBA Summer League for the Blazers". Sportando.com. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  9. "Marko Keselj inks with Lavrio GS". Sportando.com. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  10. "Marko Keselj signs with Oostende". Eurohoops.net. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  11. Crvena Zvezda acquired Marko Keselj
  12. "🚨 @keselj11 u klubu 1000 crveno-belih👏🏼🔴⚪️". twitter.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  13. "Kešelj već "prebacio" 1000 poena za Zvezdu: Markov jubilej za ponos, a kod Alimpijevića je samo popunjavao broj". telegraf.rs. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  14. "Kešelj i Dozet ponovo u Zvezdi – u novoj ulozi". b92.net. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  15. "Intervju, Uroš Tripković: Od "bloka za Uroša" do plantaža borovnica". moravainfo.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 5 March 2019.
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