Nick Fazekas

Fazekas attended Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colorado where he earned the statewide Mr. Basketball Colorado honor for the 2002–03 season along with being a two-time 4A classification player of the year. As a senior, he led the Mustangs to a 25–2 record and a state championship after an undefeated regular season and semi-finals appearance the previous year. During his high school career he wore number 22 and he continued to do so in college.

File:Fazekas in Akron CIMG9120 cropped.jpg in 2007]]

Fazekas was signed by the University of Nevada for the 2003–04 season. From that point forward, Fazekas led the Wolf Pack to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances during his matriculation, including a run to the Sweet 16 as a freshman. He became the school's all-time leading scorer on November 18, 2006, when he surpassed the old record of 1,877 points scored by Edgar Jones in 1979. He also surpassed the single-season scoring record formerly set by Jones during the 2005–06 season. Fazekas also earned his third straight WAC Player of the Year for the 2006–07 season, a feat only matched by Utah's Keith Van Horn, On February 28, 2019, Nevada retired Fazekas' number 22 in a ceremony at halftime of a win over UNLV. Fazekas became the second Wolf Pack basketball player to have his number retired, after Edgar Jones.{{cite news|title=Nevada handles rival UNLV as Pack retires Fazekas's jersey|url=https://www.kolotv.com/content/sports/No-12-Nevada-handles-rival-UNLV-as-Pack-retires-Fazekas-jersey-506480421.html|access-date=March 1, 2019|work=kolotv.com|date=February 28, 2019|archive-date=February 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228145509/https://www.kolotv.com/content/sports/No-12-Nevada-handles-rival-UNLV-as-Pack-retires-Fazekas-jersey-506480421.html|url-status=dead}}

Fazekas was an early entrant into the 2006 NBA draft, however he did not hire an agent, allowing him to eventually remove himself from consideration in order to play one more year of college basketball.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}} The next year, he was taken with the 34th pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks.{{cite news|author=Kaz Nagatsuka |date=April 16, 2013 |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/16/basketball/fazekas-diouf-sparked-major-turnaround-for-brave-thunders/#.U4pkzyIo7cs |title=Fazekas, Diouf sparked major turnaround for Brave Thunders |newspaper=The Japan Times |access-date=July 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704205905/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/16/basketball/fazekas-diouf-sparked-major-turnaround-for-brave-thunders/#.U4pkzyIo7cs |archive-date=July 4, 2013 |url-status=live }}

Fazekas was part of the Mavericks Summer League Team. He averaged 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds while playing an average of 17 minutes a game. On July 26, the Mavericks signed Fazekas to a one-year contract. As part of the team's club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Fazekas was released by the Mavericks on February 19, 2008, to make room on the roster for Keith Van Horn, whose signing-and-trading was crucial to facilitate Dallas's trade for veteran point guard Jason Kidd from the New Jersey Nets. On February 27, 2008, he signed with the Clippers.{{cite news|author=Marc Stein |access-date=February 19, 2008 |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3253107 |work=ESPN.com |title=Kidd trade to Mavs will cost Dallas $11 million more than original deal |date=February 19, 2008 |archive-date=February 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226130757/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3253107 |url-status=live }} However, on August 1, 2008, the Clippers withdrew their qualifying offer to Fazekas, leaving him as an unrestricted free agent. He was signed by the Denver Nuggets for training camp, but waived again on October 23, 2008.

He played for the Boston Celtics' 2009 Summer League team, leading the squad in scoring.

After being waived by the Nuggets, Fazekas failed to find another home in NBA and decided to go overseas. On October 28, 2008, he signed with the Belgian team Base Oostende for the 2008–09 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/36980/448 |title=Oostende signs big man Nick Fazekas |date=October 28, 2008 |access-date=October 29, 2008 |archive-date=March 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325085357/http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/36980/448 }} In January 2009, he left Base Oostende and joined the French Pro A club ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne{{cite web|url=http://www.talkbasket.net/3043-asvel-villeurbanne-inks-fazekas.html |title=ASVEL Villeurbanne inks Fazekas |work=Talk Basket |date=September 1, 2009 |access-date=October 3, 2014 |archive-date=October 3, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003200512/http://www.talkbasket.net/3043-asvel-villeurbanne-inks-fazekas.html }}

After a stint with the Celtics summer league team, Fazekas signed with JDA Dijon, returning to the French Pro A for the 2009 season.{{cite news |access-date=May 31, 2014 |url=http://www.talkbasket.net/dijon-tabs-fazekas-craven-3768 |title=Dijon tabs Fazekas, Craven |work=Talk Basketball |date=July 29, 2009 |archive-date=May 31, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531225205/http://www.talkbasket.net/dijon-tabs-fazekas-craven-3768 }}

Fazekas was selected by the Reno Bighorns with the first overall pick of the 2010 NBA Development League Draft.{{cite news|url=http://www.nba.com/dleague/draft_2010.html |title=2010 NBA D-League Draft |work=NBA.com |date=November 1, 2010 |access-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-date=November 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117022140/http://www.nba.com/dleague/draft_2010.html }} He was waived by the Bighorns on December 30, 2010,{{cite news|date=January 11, 2011|url= http://www.rgj.com/article/20110111/SPORTS10/101110324/Bighorns-waive-injured-Miles-Fazekas|title=Bighorns waive injured Miles, Fazekas}} but rejoined the team for the 2011–12 season.{{cite news |url=http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/rosters_set_for_201112_nba_de_2011_11_23.html |title=Rosters Set for 2011-12 NBA Development League Regular Season |work=NBA.com |date=November 23, 2011 |access-date=November 26, 2011 |archive-date=November 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128032508/http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/rosters_set_for_201112_nba_de_2011_11_23.html }} In December 2011, he was waived again due to injury.{{cite news |date=December 19, 2011 |work=NBA.com |url=http://www.nba.com/dleague/reno/big_farewell__nick_fazekas_2011_12_19.html |title=Big Farewell to Nick Fazekas |archive-date=May 31, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531222926/http://www.nba.com/dleague/reno/big_farewell__nick_fazekas_2011_12_19.html }}

File:Nick fazekas (cropped).jpg

In 2012, Fazekas announced his move to Japan where he signed with the Toshiba Brave Thunders Kanagawa. Prior to that, he was a member of the San Miguel Beermen for the entire 2011 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.kolotv.com/sports/headlines/Former-Pack-Star-Fazekas-Signs-with-Japanese-Team-164153216.html |title=Former Pack Star Fazekas Signs with Japanese Team |work=KOLO-TV |date=July 28, 2012 |access-date=May 31, 2014 |archive-date=May 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531230255/http://www.kolotv.com/sports/headlines/Former-Pack-Star-Fazekas-Signs-with-Japanese-Team-164153216.html }} After his move, he led his team with 26.4 points and 13.5 rebounds, earning him an MVP award in 2012.{{cite news|date=May 20, 2014 |access-date=May 31, 2014 |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/20/basketball/unfinished-business-fires-mvp-fazekas-toshiba/#.U4pgDCIo7cs |author=Kaz Nagatsuka |title='Unfinished business' fires up MVP Fazekas, Toshiba |newspaper=The Japan Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531232030/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/20/basketball/unfinished-business-fires-mvp-fazekas-toshiba/#.U4pgDCIo7cs |archive-date=May 31, 2014 |url-status=live }} He won the award again in 2013.{{cite news|newspaper=The Japan Times |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/01/basketball/fazekas-named-nbl-mvp/#.U4pidiIo7cs |author=Kaz Nagatsuka |title=Fazekas named NBL MVP |date=May 1, 2014 |access-date=May 31, 2014 |archive-date=May 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531232158/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/01/basketball/fazekas-named-nbl-mvp/#.U4pidiIo7cs |url-status=live }} In 2014, he led Toshiba Brave Thunders to an NBL Title by scoring 29 points which helped his team win 86–71 against Toyota Alvark in two periods.{{cite news|date=May 11, 2014 |access-date=May 31, 2014 |newspaper=The Japan Times |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/11/basketball/fazekas-leads-toshiba-nbl-finals/#.U4phXyIo7cs |title=Fazekas leads Toshiba to NBL Finals |archive-date=June 1, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601041545/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/05/11/basketball/fazekas-leads-toshiba-nbl-finals/#.U4phXyIo7cs }} During the 2019–20 season, Fazekas averaged 23.1 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Murray|title=Catching up with 27 ex-Nevada standouts playing pro hoops across five continents|url=http://nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters/catching-up-with-27-ex-nevada-standouts-playing-pro-hoops-across-five-continents|work=Nevada Sports Net|date=March 11, 2020|access-date=June 30, 2020}}

In May 2024, Fazekas retired from professional basketball.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Murray|title=Retired after 17 pro seasons, Nick Fazekas shares stories from up-and-down life in hoops|url=https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters/retired-after-17-pro-seasons-nick-fazekas-shares-stories-from-up-and-down-life-in-hoops#|website=NevadaSportsNet.net|date=May 7, 2024|access-date=May 8, 2024}}

In the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Fazekas played center for the Japan national basketball team, starting alongside power forward Rui Hachimura.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019/team/Japan|title=Japan at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019|website=FIBA.basketball|language=en|access-date=2019-08-28}} In a preliminary match in Saitama, Fazekas played extended minutes in Japan's first-ever FIBA victory over a European opponent,{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/08/24/basketball/japan-rallies-second-half-beat-germany/|title=Japan rallies in second half to beat Germany|last=Nagatsuka|first=Kaz|date=2019-08-24|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=2019-08-28|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763}} draining a corner three in the last 90 seconds to help Japan upset the visiting Germans.

Fazekas's grandfather, Albert Fazekas, was a freedom fighter in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution who escaped from a Soviet-operated Hungarian prison after setting himself on fire to create a diversion. He soon emigrated with his wife and child to the United States. They would have two more children, one of them Nick's father Joe, after arriving in America.{{cite news|url=http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2005/02/08/91769.php?sps=rgj.com&sch=Sports&sp1=rgj&sp2=Sports&sp3=Sports&sp5=RGJ.com&sp6=news&sp7=sports|first=Steve|last= Sneddon|title=NBA a realistic goal for Fazekas|work=Reno Gazette-Journal|date=February 8, 2005|access-date=June 29, 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2014|bot=H3llBot}} Joe, who is {{convert|6|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}} himself, briefly played professional basketball in Argentina after playing college ball at Wyoming and Idaho State. In an interview, Fazekas said that he would like to become a Hungarian citizen and play for the Hungary national basketball team.{{cite news|url=http://www.origo.hu/sport/kosarlabda/20110929-interju-nick-fazekas-volt-nbakosarassal-aki-magyar-valogatott-akar-lenni.html |first=Pál |last=Juha |title="Gyakran hallok magyar szót" - interjú az egykori NBA-kosarassal, aki magyar válogatott akar lenni |trans-title="We often hear the Hungarian word " - interview with the former NBA basketball player over who wants to be a Hungarian national |publisher=origo.hu |language=hu |access-date=October 1, 2011 |date=October 1, 2011 |archive-date=October 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002124949/http://www.origo.hu/sport/kosarlabda/20110929-interju-nick-fazekas-volt-nbakosarassal-aki-magyar-valogatott-akar-lenni.html |url-status=live }}

• Two-time 4A Player of the Year (2001–02, 2002–03)
• Mr. Basketball-Colorado (2002–03)
• Three-time WAC Player of the Year (2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07)
• Wooden Award Finalist (2005–06, 2006–07)
• Third AP Team All-American (2005–06)
• Second AP Team All-American (2006–07)
• First team ESPN All-American (2006–07)
• Joseph Kearney Award (2006)

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2007}}

| align="left" | Dallas

| 4 || 0 || 2.3 || .400 || .000 || .000 || .8 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.0

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2007}}

| align="left" | L.A. Clippers

| 22 || 0 || 11.8 || .571 || .000 || .682 || 3.9 || .6 || .4 || .5 || 4.7

|-

| align="left" | Career

| align="left" |

| 26 || 0 || 10.3 || .561 || .000 || .682 || 3.4 || .4 || .3 || .4 || 4.1

{{s-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| align="left" | 2012–13

| align="left" | Toshiba

|42 || 42|| 27.7 ||.545 || .333 ||.705 || 12.1 ||1.2 || .9 ||.8 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|21.5*

|-

|align="left" style="background-color:#afe6ba; border: 1px solid gray" | 2013–14†

| align="left" | Toshiba

|54 || 54|| 30.5 ||.560 || .445 ||.756 ||bgcolor="CFECEC"| 13.5* ||2.1 || .8 ||1.7 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|26.4*

|-

| align="left" | 2014–15

| align="left" | Toshiba

|50 || 50|| 31.2 ||.571 || .401 ||.793 || 12.9 ||2.3 || 1.0 ||1.2 ||bgcolor="CFECEC"| 26.1*

|-

| align="left" style="background-color:#afe6ba; border: 1px solid gray" | 2015–16†

| align="left" | Toshiba

|54 || 54|| 33.0 ||.536 || .370 ||.782 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|13.5* ||1.9 || 1.0 ||1.0 || 25.9

|-

| align="left" | 2016–17

| align="left" | Kawasaki

|60 || 60|| 30.3 ||.546 || .428 ||.815 || 12.7 ||2.4 || .8 ||.8 || bgcolor="CFECEC"|27.1*

|-

| align="left" | 2017–18

| align="left" | Kawasaki

|60 || 59|| 29.9 ||.553 || .446 ||.846 ||bgcolor="CFECEC"| 10.9* ||2.8 || 1.2 ||.4 || 25.3

|-

| align="left" | 2018–19

| align="left" | Kawasaki

|59 || 50|| 31.4 ||.514 || .383 ||.857 || 11.0 ||3.0 || 1.1 ||.4 || 22.1

|-

| align="left" | 2019–20

| align="left" | Kawasaki

|40 || 40|| 32.0 ||.514 || .419 ||.831 || 11.0 ||3.7 || 1.0 ||.4 || 23.2

|-

| align="left" | 2020–21

| align="left" | Kawasaki

|56 || 56|| 30.0 ||.534 || .441 ||.848 || 9.7 ||3.7 || .9 ||.3 || 20.7

|-

| align="left" | 2021–22

| align="left" | Kawasaki

|55 || 55|| 29.3 ||.541 || .420 ||.864 || 8.9 ||4.3 || 1.0 ||.3 || 19.7

|-

{{s-end}}

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{basketballstats|nba=201174}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110610232913/http://www.nevadawolfpack.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=45431&SPID=4084&DB_OEM_ID=10000&ATCLID=530557&Q_SEASON=2006 Official Nevada Bio]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061022161046/http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/Draft/2006/nickfazekas.htm College Hoop Net's Profile]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070119154638/http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/nickfazekas.html NBADraft.net Profile]
• [http://basketpedya.com/Acc002InfJug.php?idjug=57702 Basketpedya.com Player Profile]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

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