Erazem Lorbek

Lorbek began playing basketball with the youth clubs of Union Olimpija, the top basketball club in his hometown, and in the Slovenian league. Lorbek then played with Olimpija's B squad, in the minor leagues of Slovenia, from 1999 to 2002.[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=BWL#!biography LORBEK, ERAZEM Biography.]

Lorbek attended Michigan State University in the U.S., where he played college basketball for Tom Izzo and the Spartans. In the 2002–03 season, as a freshman, he averaged 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

After one season of college basketball, Lorbek chose to return to Europe, and signed a deal with Fortitudo Bologna of the Italian league, where he began his professional career, and played from 2003 to 2006 (for sponsorship reasons, the team was known as Skipper Bologna in the 2003–04 season, and Climamio Bologna from 2004 to 2006).

Lorbek won the EuroLeague 2004–05 season's Rising Star award, and originally declared for the 2004 NBA draft, but he ultimately withdrew his name from consideration.{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/draft2004/early_040618.html |title=Fifty-Three Early Entry Candidates Withdraw |work=Nba.com |access-date=November 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020181612/http://www.nba.com/draft2004/early_040618.html |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

Lorbek began the 2006–07 season on loan from the Spanish league club Unicaja Málaga to the Italian league club Benetton Treviso; however, in February 2007, the deal was voided by the Italian Basketball Federation, due to unspecified violations of federation regulations.

Lorbek then signed with Lottomatica Roma of the Italian league in 2007, where he became one of the best power forwards of the EuroLeague.{{cite web|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/8820/180 |title=Lorbek moves from Treviso to Roma |publisher=Euroleague.net |date=February 28, 2007}} With Roma, he averaged career-high 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1 block over 20 Euroleague games.

Lorbek joined the Russian club CSKA Moscow in 2008, with whom he reached the EuroLeague 2008–09 season's final, in his first season, and he was voted to the All-EuroLeague Second Team. Over 21 Euroleague games, he averaged 12 points and 5 rebounds per game.

On August 18, 2009, he was transferred to the Spanish club FC Barcelona, for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/catala/noticies/basquet/temporada09-10/08/n090817106232.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100904125559/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/catala/noticies/basquet/temporada09-10/08/n090817106232.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2010 |title=Lorbek, blaugrana |publisher=fcbarcelona.cat |date=August 18, 2009 }} He signed a three-year contract, with the possibility to leave and join the NBA, after the second year of the contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.as.com/baloncesto/articulo/lorbek-firma-regal-fc-barcelona/dasbal/20090818dasdasbal_2/Tes |title=Lorbek firma con el Regal FC Barcelona por tres años |publisher=as.com |date=August 18, 2009}}

On June 22, 2013, he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee, which caused him problems during the 2012–13 season.{{cite news |title=Erazem Lorbek has knee surgery |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/1138753/erazem-lorbek-has-knee-surgery |access-date=27 December 2021 |work=fcbarcelona.com |date=22 June 2013}} In 2013–14 season, which would be his final with FC Barcelona, he appeared in 19 Euroleague games, averaging 8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. In the Spanish League, he averaged similar numbers, with 8.7 points on average over 24 games. In August 2014, he parted ways with Barcelona.{{cite news|title=FC Barcelona, Erazem Lorbek part ways|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/132803/fc-barcelona-erazem-lorbek-part-ways.html|access-date=August 27, 2014|work=Sportando.com}}

Lorbek did not play in 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons. He was recovering from a knee injury that he suffered during his service with Barcelona Bàsquet.{{cite web|url=http://www.teamscout.net/erazem-lorbekthoughts-of-retirement-never-crossed-my-mind/ |title=Erazem Lorbek:"Thoughts of Retirement Never Crossed My Mind" |work=TeamScout |date=July 26, 2016 |access-date=July 26, 2016 }} He signed with the French LNB Pro A club Limoges, in December 2016.[http://www.eurohoops.net/proa/367516/limoges-inks-erazem-lorbek Limoges inks Erazem Lorbek.] However, he failed his physical, and thus was cut from the team.[http://www.eurohoops.net/proa/369195/lorbek-not-pass-medicals-limoges Lorbek did not pass his medicals for Limoge. ] On August 14, 2017, Lorbek joined the Italian club Dinamo Sassari, for one month.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/244287/erazem-lorbek-joins-dinamo-sassari-for-one-month.html |title=Erazem Lorbek joins Dinamo Sassari for one month |work=Sportando.com |date=August 14, 2017 |access-date=August 14, 2017 }} On September 11, 2017, he left Sassari, without having played with the team in any games.[http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/246581/erazem-lorbek-leaves-dinamo-sassari.html Erazem Lorbek leaves Dinamo Sassari]

On January 19, 2018, Lorbek signed with the Slovenian club Petrol Olimpija.{{cite news|title=Erazem Lorbek joined Petrol Olimpija|url=http://www.aba-liga.com/news.php?id=39685|access-date=January 19, 2018|work=aba-liga.com|date=January 19, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/slovenia/261813/erazem-lorbek-signs-with-petrol-olimpija.html|title=Erazem Lorbek signs with Petrol Olimpija|work=Sportando.com|date=January 19, 2018|access-date=January 19, 2018}} He played a single game for Olimpija in the Sloveninan League and recorded 12 points and 6 rebounds, only to retire from playing professional basketball shortly after.

Lorbek was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2005 NBA draft, by the Indiana Pacers. But the Pacers did not sign him, and Lorbek continued to play in Europe. During the 2011 NBA draft, the Pacers traded the draft rights to Lorbek, to the San Antonio Spurs, as part of their trade for George Hill.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/spurs-obtain-draft-rights-kawhi-leonard|title=Spurs Obtain Draft Rights To Kawhi Leonard|date=June 23, 2011|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=March 16, 2012}}

In 2016, Lorbek joined the San Antonio Spurs' 2016 NBA Summer League roster.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/spurs/spurs-announce-2016-utah-summer-league-roster/|title=SPURS ANNOUNCE 2016 UTAH SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER|work=NBA.com|date=July 1, 2016|access-date=January 3, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/summerleague/2016/players/sl_erazem_lorbek/|title=2016 Summer League Player Profile|date=July 1, 2016|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=July 1, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707094526/http://www.nba.com/summerleague/2016/players/sl_erazem_lorbek|archive-date=July 7, 2016}}

Lorbek was also a member of the senior men's Slovenian national basketball team. With Slovenia's senior national team, he played at the 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011 editions of the FIBA EuroBasket. He was one of the top players of the 2009 tournament, and earned the power forward position in the All-Tournament Team.[http://www.eurobasket2009.org/en/coid_xlo-5tK0I2UodLZoeECXH0.articleMode_on.html EuroBasket2009.org Gasol Named EuroBasket 2009 MVP Presented By Tissot.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924234038/http://www.eurobasket2009.org/en/coid_xlo-5tK0I2UodLZoeECXH0.articleMode_on.html |date=September 24, 2009 }} In 2011, Lorbek said that he didn't want to play for the Slovenian national team at EuroBasket 2011, just 15 minutes before Slovenia's training camp started. Two days later, he changed his mind, and decided instead to represent Slovenia at the tournament, which was held in Lithuania.{{cite web|url=http://www.rtvslo.si/sport/kosarka/erazem-maljkovicu-rekel-ne-pet-pred-dvanajsto/261646 |title=Erazem Maljkoviću rekel "ne" pet pred dvanajsto |publisher=Rtvslo.si |access-date=November 13, 2012}}

Lorbek is the older brother of Domen Lorbek and Klemen Lorbek, who were also professionals basketball players.

{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| Fortitudo Bologna

| 22 || 1 || 10.7 || .574 || .400 || .542 || 2.3 || .4 || .5 || .4 || 3.5 || 4.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05

| 20 || 13 || 22.1 || .566 || .368 || .706 || 4.9 || .9 || 1.1 || .9 || 9.3 || 11.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06

| 19 || 12 || 23.0 || .529 || .474 || .528 || 4.4 || 1.1 || .8 || .4 || 9.6 || 10.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2006–07

| style="text-align:left;"| Málaga

| 9 || 1 || 14.0 || .323 || .200 || .500 || 3.8 || .7 || .7 || .7 || 2.7 || 5.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08

| style="text-align:left;"| Roma

| 20 || 19 || 26.8 || .530 || .390 || .685 || 5.6 || .8 || 1.6 || 1.0 || 13.3 || 15.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09

| style="text-align:left;"| CSKA Moscow

| 21 || 15 || 23.1 || .584 || .444 || .652 || 5.0 || .8 || .8 || .7 || 12.0 || 14.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| 2009–10†

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="5"| Barcelona

| style="background:#CFECEC;"|22* || 17 || 24.6 || .536 || .423 || .674 || 4.4 || 1.2 || .8 || .8 || 8.6 || 11.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11

| 20 || 16 || 21.1 || .512 || .371 || .722 || 3.6 || .9 || .9 || .3 || 8.4 || 11.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2011–12

| 21 || style="background:#CFECEC;"|21* || 25.2 || .527 || .383 || .761 || 4.6 || 1.3 || .6 || .3 || 13.0 || 15.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13

| 30 || 26 || 21.2 || .489 || .419 || .750 || 3.4 || 1.0 || .2 || .2 || 8.9 || 8.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14

| 19 || 16 || 19.4 || .484 || .325 || .556 || 2.7 || .6 || .1 || .2 || 8.0 || 6.8

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2|Career

| 223 || 157 || 21.3 || .526 || .388 || .668 || 4.0 || .9 || .7 || .5 || 9.1 || 10.6

{{S-end}}

;Fortitudo Bologna

• Italian League (1): 2004–05
• Italian Supercup (1): 2005

;Pallacanestro Treviso

• Italian Cup (1): 2006–07

;CSKA Moscow

• VTB United League (1): 2008
• Russian Championship (1): 2008–09

;FC Barcelona Bàsquet

• Spanish League (3): 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14
• Spanish Cup (3): 2010, 2011, 2013
• Spanish Supercup (3): 2009, 2010, 2011
• EuroLeague (1): 2009–10

;Olimpija Ljubljana

• Slovenian League (1): 2017–18

• EuroLeague Rising Star:
• 2004–05
• EuroLeague MVP of the Round (3):
• Week 2, 2007–08
• Quarterfinals Game 2, 2008–09
• Week 7, 2011–12
• EuroLeague MVP of the Month:
• March/April, 2008–09
• All-EuroLeague Team (3):
• All-EuroLeague First Team (1):
• 2011–12
• All-EuroLeague Second Team (2):
• 2008–09
• 2009–10
• All-Spanish ACB League Team (2):
• 2009–10
• 2011–12
• Spanish ACB League Finals MVP:
• 2011–12

• 2002 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: {{silver medal}}
• 2002 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: All-Tournament Team
• 2002 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: MVP
• 2004 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: {{gold medal}}
• 2004 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: All-Tournament Team
• 2004 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: MVP

• 2009 EuroBasket: All-Tournament Team

{{reflist|2}}

{{commons category}}

• {{basketball stats |nba=101151 |bbr=l/lorbeer01}}
• [http://www.acb.com/jugador/temporada-a-temporada/id/20201921/tipo_id/1/competicion_id/1/fase_id/0#cuerpo Erazem Lorbek] at acb.com {{in lang|es}}
• {{Eurobasket.com player|31125}}
• [http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=BWL Erazem Lorbek] at euroleague.net
• [http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Erazem-Lorbek-30 Erazem Lorbek] at draftexpress.com
• {{FIBA profile|new_id=134532|name=Erazem Lorbek|old_id=35190}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060303073634/http://web.legabasket.it/player/?id=LOR-ERA-84 Erazem Lorbek] at legabasket.it {{in lang|it}}

{{navboxes|list=

{{FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship MVP Award}}

{{FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship MVP Award}}

{{Euroleague Rising Star Award}}

{{2005 NBA draft}}

{{FC Barcelona Bàsquet 2009–10 Euroleague champions}}

{{ACB Finals MVP Award}}

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lorbek, Erazem}}

Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:Baloncesto Málaga players

Category:Centers (basketball)

Category:FC Barcelona Bàsquet players

Category:Indiana Pacers draft picks

Category:KK Olimpija players

Category:Liga ACB players

Category:Michigan State Spartans men's basketball players

Category:Pallacanestro Treviso players

Category:Virtus Roma players

Category:PBC CSKA Moscow players

Category:Power forwards

Category:Slovenian expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:Slovenian expatriate basketball people in Spain

Category:Slovenian expatriate basketball people in the United States

Category:Slovenian men's basketball players

Category:21st-century Slovenian sportsmen

Category:Basketball players from Ljubljana