Ratko Varda
Encyclopedia
Ratko Varda is a professional basketball
player. He is a 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) center
who plays for Union Olimpija
.
's youth system and made his debut during the 1995–96 season, before making himself eligible for the 2001 NBA Draft
. He ended up not getting selected but still found himself on the Detroit Pistons
roster to the start of the 2001–02 season. Varda ended up spending two seasons in the NBA
on the rosters of the Pistons and the Washington Wizards
, but during that time he was only featured in a single official game (he played six minutes and scored five points for Detroit).
In 2003, he returned to Europe
and signed for KK Union Olimpija
until the end of the 2002–03 season. Over the summer of 2004, he played with Beşiktaş JK of the Turkish Basketball League
, but he left the club during the final series against Efes Pilsen SK.
In the 2006–07 season, he played in the Spanish Liga ACB with Real Madrid
, but he could not finish the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament
in his left knee.
On October 29, 2007, he signed for the entire season of the Spanish championship with ViveMenorca, having recovered from his knee injury.
On August 21, 2008, he signed a two-year contract with the Lithuania
n champions BC Žalgiris
from Kaunas
. Because of the financial problems of the club, he left Žalgiris in late November. The details of his financial arrangements at the bankrupt club became publicly known when he wrote an open letter to the public discussing the issue.
On January 26, 2009, he signed with the Russia
n club BC Khimki. On the last day of 2009, Varda signed a one-month contract with Asseco Prokom Gdynia of Poland
. In 2010, Varda extend his contract with Prokom until the end of the 2010–11 season.
In August 2011 he returned to his former club Union Olimpija
, signing a one-year contract.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He is a 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
who plays for Union Olimpija
KK Union Olimpija
-Depth Chart:-In: Ben Woodside Deon Thompson Aleksandar Ćapin Jaka Blažič Danny Green Ratko Varda Robert Rothbart -Out: Giorgi Shermadini - return from a loan Kenny Gregory Samo Udrih Aloysius Anagonye Vladimir...
.
Career
Varda came up through KK PartizanKK Partizan
Košarkaški klub Partizan is a Serbian professional basketball club. It is part of the multi-sports Belgrade-based club Partizan. The club competes in the Serbian League, Adriatic League and the Euroleague....
's youth system and made his debut during the 1995–96 season, before making himself eligible for the 2001 NBA Draft
2001 NBA Draft
The 2001 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 2001 in New York City, New York. Kwame Brown became the first high school player drafted with the first overall pick...
. He ended up not getting selected but still found himself on the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
roster to the start of the 2001–02 season. Varda ended up spending two seasons in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
on the rosters of the Pistons and the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
, but during that time he was only featured in a single official game (he played six minutes and scored five points for Detroit).
In 2003, he returned to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and signed for KK Union Olimpija
KK Union Olimpija
-Depth Chart:-In: Ben Woodside Deon Thompson Aleksandar Ćapin Jaka Blažič Danny Green Ratko Varda Robert Rothbart -Out: Giorgi Shermadini - return from a loan Kenny Gregory Samo Udrih Aloysius Anagonye Vladimir...
until the end of the 2002–03 season. Over the summer of 2004, he played with Beşiktaş JK of the Turkish Basketball League
Turkish Basketball League
The Turkish Basketball League is the top men’s professional basketball league in Turkey, which is also called Turkish Premier Basketball League . There is also a Turkish Second Basketball League consisting of 2 divisions .-History:The first basketball game played in Turkey was at the Robert...
, but he left the club during the final series against Efes Pilsen SK.
In the 2006–07 season, he played in the Spanish Liga ACB with Real Madrid
Real Madrid Baloncesto
Real Madrid Baloncesto is a Spanish professional basketball team founded in 1932 as a division of the Real Madrid club. They play in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto ....
, but he could not finish the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his left knee.
On October 29, 2007, he signed for the entire season of the Spanish championship with ViveMenorca, having recovered from his knee injury.
On August 21, 2008, he signed a two-year contract with the Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n champions BC Žalgiris
BC Žalgiris
BC Žalgiris is a professional basketball team that is based in Kaunas, Lithuania. It is one of the oldest teams in the Euroleague and plays domestically in the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga , and regionally in the VTB United League...
from Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
. Because of the financial problems of the club, he left Žalgiris in late November. The details of his financial arrangements at the bankrupt club became publicly known when he wrote an open letter to the public discussing the issue.
On January 26, 2009, he signed with the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n club BC Khimki. On the last day of 2009, Varda signed a one-month contract with Asseco Prokom Gdynia of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. In 2010, Varda extend his contract with Prokom until the end of the 2010–11 season.
In August 2011 he returned to his former club Union Olimpija
KK Union Olimpija
-Depth Chart:-In: Ben Woodside Deon Thompson Aleksandar Ćapin Jaka Blažič Danny Green Ratko Varda Robert Rothbart -Out: Giorgi Shermadini - return from a loan Kenny Gregory Samo Udrih Aloysius Anagonye Vladimir...
, signing a one-year contract.
External links
- Ratko Varda at acb.com
- Ratko Varda at tblstat.net
- Ratko Varda at euroleague.net
- Ratko Varda at adriaticbasket.com
- Ratko Varda at basketball-reference.com