Nick Horvath

{{short description|American-New Zealand basketball player (born 1981)}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Nick Horvath

| image =

| height_cm = 208

| weight_kg = 113

| position =

| league =

| team =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|2|18|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Shoreview, Minnesota

| nationality = American / New Zealand

| high_school = {{nowrap|Mounds View (Arden Hills, Minnesota)}}

| college = Duke (1999–2004)

| draft_year = 2004

| career_start = 2004

| career_end = 2015

| career_position = Center / power forward

| years1 = 2004–2006

| team1 = West Sydney Razorbacks

| years2 = 2006–2008

| team2 = Wellington Saints

| years3 = 2006–2007

| team3 = Adelaide 36ers

| years4 = 2007–2009

| team4 = South Dragons

| years5 = 2010

| team5 = Wellington Saints

| years6 = 2011–2015

| team6 = Manawatu Jets

| years7 = 2015

| team7 = Sydney Kings

| years8 = 2015

| team8 = Wellington Saints

| highlights =

NBL champion (2009)
NZNBL champion (2010)
NZNBL MVP (2012)
4× NZNBL All-Star Five (2006, 2008, 2012, 2013)
NCAA champion (2001)

}}

Nick Horvath (born February 18, 1981) is an American-New Zealand former professional basketball player who played the majority of his career in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). In 2010, he became the first person to win an NCAA championship (2001), an ANBL championship (2009) and a NZNBL championship (2010).

High school and college career

Horvath attended Mounds View High School in Arden Hills, Minnesota where he led the Mustangs to state tournament appearances in 1998 and 1999, where they captured the 1999 AA State Championship. Horvath was also named the 1999 Minnesota Mr. Basketball.{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PD&s_site=twincities&p_multi=SP&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FB5C1BC43FD62C3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=HORVATH SALUTES HUMPHRIES' TALENT|newspaper=St. Paul Pioneer Press|date=May 23, 2003|access-date=February 4, 2013}}

Horvath played college basketball at Duke University from 1999 to 2004, where he was a part of the 2000–01 NCAA championship team.

Professional career

Horvath's first season out of college was spent with the West Sydney Razorbacks during the 2004–05 NBL season.

In July 2005, Horvath joined the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 2005 NBA Summer League. Later that year, he re-signed with the Razorbacks for the 2005–06 NBL season. On September 2, 2005, Horvath dislocated his kneecap in the Razorbacks' season opening loss to the Townsville Crocodiles and subsequently missed three months of action.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714162128/http://tvnz.co.nz/content/608835/2422039/article.html Frank comes to Razorbacks rescue] On November 26, 2005, he made his return from injury, recording nine points and five rebounds in a loss to the Wollongong Hawks. However, in the Razorbacks' next game on December 2, he sustained a season-ending toe injury. After recovering from the injury, he moved to New Zealand and joined the Wellington Saints for the 2006 New Zealand NBL season.

In July 2006, Horvath joined the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2006 NBA Summer League.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714192534/http://tvnz.co.nz/content/720097/2422039/article.html Saints' import eyeing NBA spot] Later that year, he signed with the Adelaide 36ers for the 2006–07 NBL season.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-07-26/adelaide-still-waiting-on-horvath-decision/1811306 Adelaide still waiting on Horvath decision] Following the ANBL season, he re-joined the Wellington Saints for the 2007 New Zealand NBL season.

On April 11, 2007, Horvath signed a two-year deal with the South Dragons.{{cite web |title=South Dragons gain height with Horvath |date=April 11, 2007 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924194652/https://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/South-Dragons-gain-height-with-Horvath/2007/04/11/1175971175869.html |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/South-Dragons-gain-height-with-Horvath/2007/04/11/1175971175869.html}}[http://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/horvath-now-a-dragon/story-e6frf3f3-1111113327520 Horvath now a Dragon][https://web.archive.org/web/20070913135913/http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=4905 Dragons sign Horvath] On October 25, 2007, Horvath was replaced in the Razorbacks' squad by Bakari Hendrix following the Dragons' 0–6 start to the season.[http://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/dragons-make-import-switch/story-e6frf3f3-1111114723752 Dragons make import switch][http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/23200/Saints-Hendrix-off-to-Dragons Saints' Hendrix off to Dragons] However, despite this, he was not released by the Dragons and continued to train with them for the rest of the season, waiting to see if he'd receive his New Zealand citizenship to be able to play as a local instead of an import.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714173113/http://tvnz.co.nz/content/1416149/2422039/article.html Dragons sweating on Kiwi citizenship] He did not receive his citizenship before the 2007–08 season ended, and in February 2008, he re-joined the Wellington Saints for the 2008 season. Following the Saints' 92–80 win over the Canterbury Rams on March 23, 2008, Horvath took a leave of absence from his duties with the Saints to wed his fiancé, Sheree Phillips.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714231305/http://www.basketball.org.nz/news/saints-march-past-rams/ Saints March Past Rams]

On April 16, 2008, Horvath was granted New Zealand citizenship, ending a year-long process, allowing him to play as a local in both the New Zealand and Australian NBL, while also making him eligible to play for the Tall Blacks.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714231848/http://www.basketball.org.nz/news/horvath-now-a-kiwi/ Horvath Now A Kiwi] Later that year, he re-joined the South Dragons for the 2008–09 season, going on to win the ANBL championship.

After winning the championship with the South Dragons, Horvath disappeared from the basketball scene in 2009, citing mental and physical exhaustion. He instead decided to travel his homeland America with his wife Sheree. In 2010, Horvath returned to New Zealand and re-joined the Wellington Saints.[http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/local-sport/3426530/Saints-centre-is-back-enjoying-having-fun Saints' centre is back 'enjoying having fun'] He went on to help the Saints win their sixth league title, and first since 2003.

In January 2011, Horvath signed with the Manawatu Jets.[http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/4524171/Nick-Horvath-jets-off-to-Manawatu Nick Horvath jets off to Manawatu] During the 2011 season, he led the NZNBL in rebounding with an average of 11.7 per game. In 2012, with the Jets, Horvath had his best ever season as a professional, averaging 19.5 points and an astounding 15.8 rebounds per game. He was awarded the MVP, Kiwi MVP, outstanding forward, outstanding NZ forward/centre, and leading rebounder. He was also named to the All-Star Five.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-3990-0-0-0&sID=215066&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=19423283 |title=Paul Henare Wins NBL Coach of the Year Award |work=FoxSportsPulse.com |date=May 28, 2012 |access-date=February 4, 2013}} In 2013, Horvath was again named to the All-Star Five.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714162128/http://www.basketball.org.nz/nbl/results/2013-nbl-final-four/ 2013 NBL Final Four]

On November 14, 2013, Horvath re-signed with the Jets for the 2014 season.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140726112800/http://www.basketball.org.nz/news/jets-sign-horvath/ Jets Sign Horvath] He missed the first eight games of the season due to a groin injury.[http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/sport/basketball/9860526/Horvath-out-of-action Horvath out of action]

On January 14, 2015, Horvath signed a short-term deal with the Sydney Kings to replace the injured Angus Brandt.[http://www.sydneykings.com/team-news/kings-sign-nbl-vetertan/ Kings sign NBL veteran][http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/sydney-kings-sign-nbl-veteran-nick-horvath-to-cover-angus-brandts-injury-absence/news-story/e150c79508d841be6f7ac589792297fd Sydney Kings sign NBL veteran Nick Horvath to cover Angus Brandt’s injury absence] After a three-game stint with the Kings, he returned to Manawatu and re-signed with the Jets for the 2015 season on January 27.[http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/65443383/jetsetting-horvath-signs-for-another-season Jet-setting Horvath signs for another season] However, due to a lingering knee injury, he struggled while playing for the Jets and following the team's May 16 game against the Taranaki Mountainairs, he was released by the Jets management under controversial circumstances and despite Horvath's protests that he was medically fine. He was later signed by the Wellington Saints on May 22 for the rest of the season.[http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/68758884/nick-horvath-let-go-by-manawatu-jets Nick Horvath let go by Manawatu Jets]

In April 2016, Horvath announced his retirement from the game due to a combination of injury, family commitments and the Manawatu Jets pulling out of the NBL.[http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/79073192/horvath-moves-into-coaching-after-injury-and-jets-demise-ends-playing-career Nick Horvath joins basketball coaching ranks after injury and Jets' demise end playing career]

National team career

In 1998, Horvath helped lead USA to a gold medal at the World Youth Games in Moscow. He finished as USA's seventh-leading scorer (7.2 ppg) and fourth-leading rebounder (5.7 rpg).[https://web.archive.org/web/20070324092132/http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=36ers_playerprofile&profile=220 Nick Horvath's NBL profile]

Horvath earned the naturalised spot on the New Zealand Tall Blacks squad to compete in the 2008 Olympics Qualifying Tournament. In his only tournament with the Tall Blacks, Horvath averaged 3.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in three games.[https://web.archive.org/web/20151130153752/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/66255/sid/4508/tid/337/_/2008_FIBA_Olympic_Qualifying_Tournament_for_Men/index.html Nick Horvath's FIBA profile]

Personal

Horvath's wife, Sheree Phillips, is a former Black Sticks hockey player. The couple have two children.

With his retirement from playing basketball, Horvath, a long-time physics teacher at Palmerston North Boys' High School, became the coach of the school's top basketball team.

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070324092132/http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=36ers_playerprofile&profile=220 Nick Horvath] at nbl.com.au
[http://www.dukeupdate.com/Alumni/nick_horvath.htm Nick Horvath] at dukeupdate.com

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Category:1981 births

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Category:Centers (basketball)