Marko Pecarski

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Marko Pecarski

| image = Marko_Pecarski_i_Novica_Veličković.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Pecarski (left) in 2019

| position = Power forward / center

| height_m = 2.08

| weight_kg = 106

| league = Basketbol Süper Ligi

| team = Darüşşafaka Lassa

| number = 15

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|2|12}}

| birth_place = Gijón, Spain

| nationality = Serbian

| draft_year = 2022

| career_start = 2016

| years1 = 2017–2019

| team1 = Partizan

| years2 = 2019–2021

| team2 = FMP

| years3 = 2021–2022

| team3 = Borac Čačak

| years4 = 2022–2023

| team4 = Mornar Bar

| years5 = 2023–2024

| team5 = Yukatel Merkezefendi

| years6 = 2024

| team6 = Lietkabelis Panevėžys

| years7 = 2025–present

| team7 = Darüşşafaka

| highlights =

| medal_templates =

{{MedalCountry|{{bk|SRB}}}}

}}

Marko Pecarski ({{lang-sr-cyr|Марко Пецарски}}; born February 12, 2000) is a Serbian professional basketball player for Darüşşafaka of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).

Early life and career

Pecarski was born in Gijón, Spain as his father Miroslav Pecarski was playing for Gijón of the Liga ACB.{{cite web |title=2021 NBA Draft Profile - Marko Pecarski |url=https://www.nba.com/draft/2021/prospects/marko-pecarski |website=nba.com |access-date=19 July 2021}} Marko grew up in his hometown Belgrade, playing for the Zemun youth system. Pecarski played Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournaments for the Zemun (2013–2014){{cite web|title=Pecarski Profile|url=http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=005656&seasoncode=JT13|website=euroleague.net|accessdate=12 August 2017}} and the Mega Leks (2015–2016). In April 2016, he participated at 2016 Jordan Brand Classic International Game.{{cite web|title=2016 INTERNATIONAL BOX SCORE|url=https://jordanbrandclassic.com/international-team/|website=jordanbrandclassic.com|accessdate=12 August 2017}} He made his debut in the Adriatic League, on 2 May 2016, at the age of 16, in a home loss to Crvena zvezda.{{cite web|title=Finals Round 3 — Mega Leks 49 : 61 Crvena zvezda mts|url=http://www.aba-liga.com/match.php?id=191&sez=15|website=aba-liga.com|accessdate=12 August 2017}} In January 2017, he moved to Germany to play for reserve team of Bayern Munich{{cite web|title=VELIKI TALENAT KOD SELEKTORA ORLOVA Marko Pecarski prelazi u Bajern|url=http://sport.blic.rs/kosarka/evropska-kosarka/veliki-talenat-kod-selektora-orlova-marko-pecarski-prelazi-u-bajern/vw2qkpj|website=sport.blic.rs|accessdate=12 August 2017}} of the German 3rd-tier level ProB. In August 2017, he attended Basketball Without Borders Europe Camp 16 in Netanya, Israel.{{cite web |title=First Basketball without Borders Europe camp in Israel draws many elite players from the continent |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/first-basketball-without-borders-europe-camp-in-israel-draws-many-elite-players-from-the-continent |website=fiba.basketball |access-date=29 July 2021}} Also, he attended the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in El Segundo, California in February 2018.{{cite web |title=All-Stars Horford, Dragic Headline Basketball Without Borders Global Camp |url=http://global.nba.com/news/stars-horford-dragic-headline-basketball-without-borders-global-camp/ |website=global.nba.com |access-date=29 July 2021}}

Professional career

On September 25, 2017, Pecarski signed a three-year contract with Partizan from Belgrade.{{cite web|title=U CRNO-BELOM DO 2021. Pecarski: Dolaskom u Partizan ostvario sam san, želim da budem lider|url=http://sport.blic.rs/kosarka/evropska-kosarka/u-crno-belom-do-2021-pecarski-dolaskom-u-partizan-ostvario-sam-san-zelim-da-budem/x06d5gr|website=sport.blic.rs|accessdate=25 September 2017|language=sr}}{{cite web|title=Šalić, Pecarski and Nikolić signed with Partizan NIS|url=https://www.aba-liga.com/news.php?id=38728|website=aba-liga.com|accessdate=27 September 2017}} Over 12 ABA League games in 2017–18 season, he averaged 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds, while shooting 71% from the field goal. In August 2019, Pecarski parted ways with Partizan.{{cite web |title=Mijailović za MOZZART Sport: Pecarski nezadovoljan statusom, Partizan njegovim napretkom |url=https://www.mozzartsport.com/kosarka/vesti/mijailovic-za-mozzart-sport-pecarski-nezadovoljan-statusom-partizan-njegovim-napretkom/335937 |website=mozzartsport.com |accessdate=1 September 2019}} On September 20, Pecarski officially parted ways with Partizan.{{cite web |title=Pecarski napustio crno-bele, Partizanu 150.000 dolara ako ode u NBA |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2019&mm=09&dd=20&nav_id=1593900 |website=b92.net |accessdate=20 September 2019}}

On September 20, 2019, Pecarski signed a three-year contract with FMP.{{cite web |title=Pecarski novi igrač FMP |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2019&mm=09&dd=20&nav_id=1593918 |website=b92.net |accessdate=20 September 2019}}{{cite web |title=Marko Pecarski moved to FMP |url=https://www.aba-liga.com/news.php?id=42272 |website=aba-liga.com |accessdate=20 September 2019}} Following the 2020–21 season Pecarski declared for the 2021 NBA draft.{{cite web |title=Marko Pecarski izlazi na NBA draft |url=https://www.mozzartsport.com/kosarka/vesti/marko-pecarski-izlazi-na-nba-draft/388946 |website=mozzartsport.com |access-date=3 June 2021}} On July 14, 2021, he parted ways with FMP.{{cite web |title=Zvanično: Rastali se Marko Pecarski i FMP |url=https://www.mozzartsport.com/kosarka/vesti/zvanicno-rastali-se-marko-pecarski-i-fmp/393007 |website=mozzartsport.com |access-date=14 July 2021}} On July 19, he withdrawn his name from consideration for the 2021 NBA draft.{{cite web |title=NBA announces 51 early entry candidates withdraw from 2021 Draft |url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-announces-51-early-entry-candidates-withdraw-from-2021-draft |website=nba.com |access-date=21 July 2021}}

On July 27, 2021, Pecarski signed a one-year contract with Borac Čačak.{{cite web |title=Sada i zvanično: Marko Pecarski novi igrač Borca |url=https://www.mozzartsport.com/kosarka/vesti/sada-i-zvanicno-marko-pecarski-novi-igrac-borca/394211 |website=mozzartsport.com |access-date=28 July 2021}}

On August 9, 2022, Pecarski signed a contract with Mornar Bar.{{cite web |title=U Mornar stiže i Marko Pecarski! |url=http://www.kkmornar.bar/index.php/novosti/aba-liga-2/946-u-mornar-stize-i-marko-pecarski |website=kkmornar.bar |access-date=9 August 2022}}

On August 13, 2023, he signed with Yukatel Merkezefendi of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).{{Cite tweet |user=merkezefendigsk |number=1690732929624702977 |title=Hoş geldin Marko Pecarski!}}

On July 28, 2024, Pecarski signed one-year contract with Lietkabelis Panevėžys of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroCup.{{cite web |title=Priekinę liniją stiprina Turkijos lygoje rungtyniavęs serbas |url=https://www.kklietkabelis.lt/priekine-linija-stiprina-turkijos-lygoje-rungtyniaves-serbas/ |website=kklietkabelis.lt |language=lt |date=28 July 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024}} On 21 December, he parted ways with the club.{{cite web |title=Komandą palieka Pecarski|url=https://www.kklietkabelis.lt/komanda-palieka-pecarski/|website=kklietkabelis.lt |language=lt |date=21 December 2024 |access-date=21 December 2024}}

National team career

Pecarski was a member of the Serbia men's national under-16 teams at the two European Under-16 Championships. Over seven games at the 2016 Championship, he averaged 26.6 points, 15.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game{{cite web|title=Marko PECARSKI Player Profile at the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u16/2016/player/Marko-Pecarski|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817183048/http://www.fiba.com/europe/u16/2016/Marko-PECARSKI|url-status=live|archive-date=August 17, 2016|website=FIBA.com|accessdate=12 August 2017}} and he was selected to the All-Tournament Team. He was the top scorer and the rebounds leader of the 2016 Championship. Before that, over nine games at the 2015 Championship, he averaged 12 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.{{cite web|title=Marko PECARSKI Player Profile at the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/123195/sid/11538/index.html|website=FIBA.com|accessdate=12 August 2017}}

Pecarski was a member of the Serbian U-18 national basketball teams that won the gold medals at the 2017 Championship and the 2018 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. Over seven tournament games in 2017, he averaged 12.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.{{cite web|title=Marko PECARSKI Player Profile at the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u18/2017/player/Marko-Pecarski|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803020116/http://www.fiba.com/europe/u18/2017/Marko-Pecarski|url-status=live|archive-date=August 3, 2017|website=FIBA.com|accessdate=12 August 2017}} In 2018, he averaged 24.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game over seven tournament games.{{cite web |title=Marko PECARSKI 2018 Profile |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u18/2018/player/Marko-Pecarski |website=fiba.basketball |accessdate=6 August 2018}} He was the top scorer and the rebounds leader of the 2018 Championship.{{cite web |title=2018 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Players Statistics |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u18/2018/playerstats |website=fiba.basketball |accessdate=6 August 2018}} He was instrumental in the gold-medal game with a game-high 34 points, 13 rebounds and 1 assist, as Serbia defeated Latvia 99-90 after an excellent first-half performance. At the tournament's end, he picked up the Most Valuable Player award and got selected to the All-Tournament Team.{{cite web |title=Serbia big man Pecarski named MVP, tops All-Star Five |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u18/2018/news/serbia-big-man-pecarski-named-mvp-tops-all-star-five |website=fiba.basketball |accessdate=6 August 2018}} Pecarski and Balša Koprivica played together for the national team and won a gold medal at the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. Thirty years ago, their fathers Miroslav Pecarski and Slaviša Koprivica played together for the national team and won a gold medal at the 1987 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.{{cite web|url=https://kosmagazin.com/koprivica-pecarski-30-godina-kasnije/|title=Koprivica-Pecarski, 30 godina kasnije |publisher=kosmagazin.com |language=Serbian |accessdate=August 12, 2015}}

Pecarski was a member of the Serbian under-19 team that finished 7th at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Heraklion, Greece. Over seven tournament games, he averaged 22.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.{{cite web |title=Average Statistics of Serbia at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/world/u19/2019/team/Serbia#tab=overview |website=fiba.basketball |accessdate=7 July 2019}} Pecarski was a member of the Serbian under-20 team that finished 15th at the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship in Tel Aviv, Israel. Over six tournament games, he averaged 18.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.{{cite web |title=Average Statistics of Serbia at the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u20/2019/team/Serbia#tab=overview,average_statistics |website=fiba.basketball |accessdate=21 July 2019}}

Individual awards

FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship MVP – 2018
FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship All-Tournament Team – 2018
FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Top scorer – 2018
FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Rebounds Leader – 2018
FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship All-Tournament Team – 2016
FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship Top scorer – 2016
FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship Rebounds Leader – 2016

References

External links

[https://www.aba-liga.com/player.php?id=2523 Marko Pecarski] at aba-liga.com
[http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Marko-Pecarski-80461/ Marko Pecarski] at draftexpress.com
[http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Marko-Pecarski/Germany/FC-Bayern-Muenchen-II/332336 Marko Pecarski] at eurobasket.com

Category:2000 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Serbian sportsmen

Category:ABA League players

Category:Basketball League of Serbia players

Category:Basketball players from Belgrade

Category:BC Lietkabelis players

Category:Centers (basketball)

Category:Darüşşafaka Basketbol players

Category:KK Borac Čačak players

Category:KK Mega Basket players

Category:KK FMP players