Team 2012-13: Phoenix Suns (USA-NBA)
Career: LKS Lodz (Poland-3rd div., up to 2003); Rhein Energy Köln (Germany-Bundesliga, 2003-07); Orlando Magic (USA-NBA, 2007-10), Anaheim Arsenal (USA-NBDL, 2007-08); Phoenix Suns (USA-NBA, 2010-13)
Marcin Gortat is the perfect walking example of how amazing basketball is. He only started to play at the age of 18, after he grew too tall to remain as goalie for the LKS Lodz soccer team. He needed no extra time to fall in love with the new game. After only three years he was drafted by an NBA team, and after another year he was starting for a Euroleague team. In his fifth he became an NBA player and in 2009 he was playing in the NBA finals. Nothing could stop Gortat, who went on to become one of Steve Nash's pick-and-roll friends, leading the Phoenix Suns in scoring in 2011/12, not a bad way to celebrate 10 years of playing basketball. Nicknamed the "Polish Hammer" he always says he prefers to be known as the "Polish Machine". He is always proud to wear the "Polish Eagle", playing in the qualification rounds for both the 2011 and 2013 EuroBaskets and only lock-out related insurance issues stopped him from playing in Lithuania two years ago. Gortat is the son of well-respected Polish Olympic medallist in boxing and championship volleyball player, Janusz, so he has competiveness in his blood. He uses it greatly, pushing himself to new levels every year and never having two bad games in a row against the same opponent. Last season in the NBA he was halted by a foot injury, but it only guarantees he will come back to play sharper than ever. Being known as a defensive player for some time, he has now developed a nice shot from four-to-six metres and has also made progress with his low-post game. With his repertoire forever expanding, do not be surprised to see him add something else to it prior to Slovenia.
