Is the CBA really coming to an end? The Guangsha team, currently at the top of the standings, has signed Boban Marjanovic, who stands at 2.24 meters tall, to form an interior double tower with Hu Jinqiu, who has been selected for the national team multiple times. This move strengthens their last weakness, making this year the best opportunity for them to win the championship.
Prior to this, Guangsha's interior height was insufficient, with the tallest being Hu Jinqiu at 2.10 meters, and the rest of the interior players standing below 2.10 meters. In a match against Shanxi, they lost a total of 10 rebounds. At a critical moment in the game, Liu Chuanxing, who stands at 2.25 meters tall, grabbed two offensive rebounds, which proved to be very fatal, leading to their narrow defeat by Shanxi by just two points. Signing Boban not only increases the interior height but also greatly relieves pressure on Hu Jinqiu, ensuring that he can stay healthy throughout the season and playoffs, greatly increasing their chances of winning the title.
Boban stands at 2.24 meters tall, weighs 132 kilograms, and has an arm span of 2.34 meters. He is a giant from Serbia who possesses huge hands, good touch, and some basketball skills. With his advantages in height, weight, and strength, he is sure to perform well in the CBA. The only disadvantage is that he is already 36 years old, and physical fitness is a big issue. Fortunately, Guangsha has a sufficient number of players, and Boban can still help the team well by playing about 20 minutes per game. Let's delve into the story of this CBA big foreign aid.
Born on August 15, 1988, in Zajecar, Serbia, into an ordinary family, Boban's father stands at 1.75 meters tall, and his mother at 1.70 meters tall. How could two people of normal height give birth to a giant? According to Boban's father, Boban's great-grandfather was very tall, and they couldn't even buy suitable clothes in their local area. They have a genetic predisposition for tall stature, which manifested in Boban.
Boban was born at 54 centimeters tall and weighed 4.3 kilograms. He grew wildly every year, reaching over two meters in height by the age of 13. Due to his outstanding height, he was recruited by a basketball club for training. At 14, he had already reached 2.09 meters in height, but his basketball skills did not grow as quickly as his height. It took him five years to move from the youth team to the first team, and another six years to gradually grow from a role player to an interior core.
In July 2012, Boban transferred to the Serbian team Mega MIS, representing the team in both the Serbian A League and Super League. In the Serbian A League, he averaged 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. He also performed outstandingly in the Super League, averaging 16.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game, earning him the regular-season MVP of the event.
After that, he became a hot commodity, receiving a two-year contract at the end of the season. He represented Crvena Zvezda Belgrade in the Adriatic League, Serbian League, and European League. In his second season with the team, he led them to win the Adriatic League championship, was selected to the All-Star Team, and won the playoff MVP. He also led them to win the Serbian Super League championship and was elected the MVP of the event. He also performed outstandingly in the European League, winning the first-round MVP and being selected to the All-European League First Team.
With his excellent performance in the European League, Boban caught the attention of the Spurs, who like to recruit international players, and landed in the NBA with a one-year 1.2millioncontract.Heaveraged9.4minutespergamewiththeSpurs,contributing5.5pointsand3.6reboundsefficiently.Aftertheseason,hereceivedathree−year21 million offer, which the Spurs were unable to match, ultimately becoming a member of the Pistons.
The disadvantage of Boban's slow mobility is very fatal in the NBA, especially in the small-ball era, resulting in limited playing time and constant wandering. However, there are always teams interested in him because his advantages are quite obvious. In the 2018-2019 season, he received an average of 13.9 minutes of playing time with the 76ers, scoring 8.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 62.5%. He also attempted eight three-pointers and made four, with a three-point shooting percentage of 50%, performing quite well. The Mavericks, who have a weak interior, offered him a two-year $7 million contract.
During his two seasons with the Mavericks, Boban did not receive much playing time, but whenever given enough playing time, he could produce impressive statistics - On March 11, 2020, in the Mavericks' 113-97 victory over the Nuggets, Boban scored a career-high 31 points along with 17 rebounds in the NBA. Moreover, in the playoffs of his second year with the Mavericks, he averaged 11.8 points and 8 rebounds per game, proving his value, which also earned him a one-year minimum salary renewal contract.
However, after playing 23 regular-season games, the Mavericks sent Boban to the Rockets as part of a trade to strengthen their roster. He spent two seasons with the Rockets, always on the fringes of the team. After last season, he became a free agent and went unnoticed in the NBA free market, eventually joining the Turkish league.
Boban is not an NBA star, but he has a high exposure rate. His physique makes him a focal point wherever he goes, especially when walking with his wife, who is only 1.60 meters tall. The 64-centimeter height difference always sparks discussion. Although the woman is not tall, she has a good figure and high looks, and Boban is often praised for having good taste and foresight. In fact, marrying a woman who is not tall but has high looks is actually very beneficial for his children. He knows that being too tall can bring many troubles and defects on the court. By marrying this wife, he can not only make his children shorter but also ensure their looks, achieving two goals with one action.
Now they have been married for ten years and have two sons, living a happy and peaceful life as a family of four. Although Boban has a rough appearance, he is emotionally delicate and is particularly kind to both his family and others. He often has heartwarming actions in the NBA, which is one of the reasons why he is deeply loved despite limited playing time. Compared to those arrogant and domineering foreign players, we welcome foreign players like Boban with good character, hoping that he can make a name for himself in the CBA!