| Nickname(s) | Šveđo |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward Small forward |
| Height | 6 ft 10.25 in (2.09 m) |
| Weight | 260 lb (120 kg) |
| League | Euroleague NLB League A-1 Liga |
| Team | KK Zagreb |
| Born | December 26, 1985 Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Draft | 2nd round, 59th overall, 2006 San Antonio Spurs |
| Pro career | 2001–present |
| Career history | KK Zabok (2001–2002) Sanac Karlovac (2002–2003) Cibona Zagreb (2003–2006, 2008) Milwaukee Bucks (2006–2007) Tulsa 66ers (2007) Spartak St. Petersburg (2007–2008) Žalgiris Kaunas (2008) ViveMenorca (2008-09) Iurbentia Bilbao (2009-10) Union Olimpija (2010-12) |
Damir Markota (born December 26, 1985) is a Croatian-Swedish professional basketball player at the forward position. He is 2.09 m (6 ft 10 ¼) tall and 118 kg (260 lbs) in weight.[1] His style of play has been compared to that of Vladimir Radmanović.[2] He currently plays for KK Zagreb in his native Croatia.
Markota, born in Sarajevo (then SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia), fled Bosnia during the war and settled in Sweden, where he began to practice basketball. He played together with Maciej Lampe in Stockholm, until moving to Croatia when he was fourteen, after being invited to play in the Croatian league. Markota signed with KK Cibona, but was loaned to Zabok and Karlovac Šanac until the end of 2002-03. Subsequently, he received Croatian citizenship (holding Swedish as well), declining an offer to play for the Swedish national basketball team.
Markota was an early candidate for the 2004 NBA Draft, but soon withdrew his name from consideration.[3] He was later invited to the Croatian national team, and in 2005 he changed his last name to "Markota" (his mother's maiden name).[3]
He was eventually chosen by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft, 59th overall, then immediately traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. During the summer of 2006, the Bucks signed Markota to a multi-year contract after the Spurs traded his draft rights for the higher of the Bucks’ two 2007 NBA Draft second-round picks.
In February 2007, the Bucks assigned Markota to Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, in order to further improve his play.[4]
On September 7, Markota was waived by the Bucks,[5] and signed with Russian team Spartak St. Petersburg on a two-year contract two days later.[6] However, in early 2008, he switched to Lithuanian powerhouse Žalgiris Kaunas.[7]
On August 14, 2008, Markota was signed by Cibona, returning to the team he represented as a youngster[8] but, after a series of unsatisfying performances upon recovering form knee injury, he was suspended for clashing with the coach.[9]
On October 28, 2008 ViveMenorca, of the Spanish ACB, announced the signing of Markota.[10][11] In January 2009, he joined Iurbentia Bilbao.[12]
On September 1, 2010 he signed a one year deal with Union Olimpija in Slovenia.[13] In January 2012 he left Union Olimpija due to lack of payment and signed with KK Zagreb.[14]
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