Matjaz Smodis

Name: Matjaz Smodis
Born: 1979
Position: Power Forward
Passport: Slovenia
Size: 2.05m/6’9ft
Team: CSKA
Contract: 3 years, expiring 2011, option for an additional year; 2.500.000€ net/year;
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Statistics: Euroleague
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Key attributes

  • one of the Euroleague’s best power forwards
  • high-energy type of player
  • extremely physical
  • a deadly outside shooter on the catch and shoot
  • clinical passer from the highpost position
  • has developed his lowpost game significantly
  • does an excellent job drawing the foul; very good free throw shooter
  • fundamentally sound job on the boards; will box out his man
  • not the greatest of athletes
  • has had a problem with injuries in the last couple of years

(latest update: 05 Dec 2008)
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05 Dec 2008; Notes

Matjaz Smodis won the Euroleague three-times … each of the three times under the guidance of Italian star coach Ettore Messina: with Virtus Bologna in 2001, and with CSKA in both 2006 and 2008. He starred in the 2002 and 2007 Euroleague Finals. While he was an integral part, but not THE key player early in the decade playing alongside the likes of Emanuell Ginobili and Marko Jaric, Smodis has developed into one of Europe’s best forwards over the years and is nowadays one of the leaders on the Euroleague’s currently most successful team. Smodis is a brilliant team player, high-energy type, hustles for every loose ball, and he combines that with excellent scoring, passing and rebounding abilities.