For 90 days get to know more about the international faces of the NBA. Day 50 brings...
Ognjen Kuzmic (C, Golden State Warriors), Bosnia and Herezgovina
Height: 2.13 m, 7-feet | Weight: 114kg, 251 pounds | Born: 16 May, 1990
The "Bosnian Beast" Ognjen Kuzmic has superhuman rebounding capabilities – at least in the NBA D-League.
He led the D-League in both offensive rebounding percentage and total rebounding percentage in his rookie 2013-14 season, and broke the Santa Cruz record for the most rebounds in a single game with 24, on 23 Feb. In his season-high for points, he scored 23 points and grabbed 18 boards against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in just 27 minutes on 17 April.
He battled ankle and hand injuries throughout the season, but when healthy he got called up to play for Golden State. The Warriors had spaces to fill at center with Festus Ezeli out the entire season, and Andrew Bogut missing 15 games. This allowed Kuzmic to appear in 21 NBA games, and gain some experience on the big stage.
At age 24 he still has time for growth, and his ability to go to the glass is a positive indicator for future success in the NBA.
Key Stats:
2013-14 Season: GP: 21 | MPG: 4.4 | PTS: 0.7 | REB: 1.0
Season Highlight: He had a career-high of six points and seven rebounds against the Nuggets on 16, April.
Five Things To Know
1. He led the NBA D-League in rebounds with 11.7 per game in 2013-14.
2. The Warriors choose him as the 52nd overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
3. Kuzmic is a Bosnian-Serb, and is the second Bosnian-born player drafted by the Warriors.
4. He's played professional basketball in Bosnia, Spain, Finland and the USA.
5. His nickname is the "Bosnian Beast."
Check out Kuzmic's photos and video in the LEAGUE section of NBA Game Time.
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