Robert Rothbart
רוברט רות'בארט
PositionCenter
Height7 ft
Height in1.5
Weight lbs230
LeagueIsraeli National League
TeamElitzur Ashkelon
NationalityBosnian / Israeli / American / Serbian
Birth dateJune 16, 1986 (age 40)
Birth placeSarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina
SFR Yugoslavia
Draft year2005
Career start2004
Career end2022
Years 12004–2006
Team 1Paris Racing
Years 22006–2007
Team 2Hapoel Galil Elyon
Years 32007–2008
Team 3Borac Nektar
Years 42008–2009
Team 4Ironi Nahariya
Years 52009–2010
Team 5Elitzur Maccabi Netanya
Years 62010–2011
Team 6Maccabi Haifa
Years 72011–2012
Team 7Union Olimpija
Years 82012–2013
Team 8Start Gdynia
Years 92013
Team 9Gamateks Pamukkale Üniversitesi
Years 102014
Team 10Leotar
Years 112014
Team 11Igokea
Years 122014–2015
Team 12Ironi Nahariya
Years 132015–2016
Team 13Hapoel Tel Aviv
Years 142016–2017
Team 14Hapoel Eilat
Years 152017–2018
Team 15Maccabi Kiryat Gat
Years 162018
Team 16ESSM Le Portel
Years 172018–2019
Team 17Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Years 182019–2022
Team 18Elitzur Eito Ashkelon
Highlights

Robert Rothbart (Hebrew: רוברט רות'בארט; born Boris Kajmaković on June 16, 1986) is a Bosnian born Serbian-Israeli professional basketball player playing the position of center for Elitzur Eito Ashkelon of the Israeli National League. He was named the Israeli Basketball Super League Most Improved Player in 2015.

Early life

Rothbart was born in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was at the time part of the former Yugoslavia. Due to the war, Robert and his family moved to Israel, where they stayed for two years before moving to the United States when he was eight years old.[1]

After graduating from The Harker School, a private elementary school in San Jose, California, Rothbart played high school basketball for Saint Francis High School (Mountain View, California), Monta Vista High School (Cupertino, California),[1] and Natomas High School (Sacramento, California).[2] During his stay in Sacramento, he was involved in the Serbian community and was mentored by Serbian-born NBA star Vlade Divac. Rothbart pulled out of the 2004 NBA draft before trying his luck a year later in the 2005 NBA draft, but he went undrafted.

Professional career

Although he initially committed to Indiana University, Rothbart decided in the summer of 2004 to skip college and play in Europe.

After two seasons with Paris Basket Racing in the French Pro A league and one season with Israeli club Hapoel Galil Elyon, Rothbart moved back to play in his birth country of Bosnia and Herzegovina to play for Borac Banja Luka in the local First League of Republika Srpska.

Prior to the 2008–09 season, he returned to the Israeli League, this time signing with Ironi Nahariya.

Prior to the 2009–10 season, Rothbart signed with Elitzur Maccabi Netanya B.C., with whom he reached the Israeli Basketball State Cup semi-finals.

In the summer of 2010, Rothbart signed to play for Maccabi Haifa.

In August 2011, Rothbart signed with Union Olimpija.[3]

Rothbart signed with Polish team Start Gdynia in 2012, Turkish team Gamateks Pamukkale Üniversitesi in 2013, and 2 Bosnian teams, Leotar and KK Igokea, in 2014.

In July 2015, Rothbart signed a 2-year deal with Hapoel Tel Aviv[4] after being named the Israeli League's Most Improved Player and MVP of the league's all-star game in the previous season.[5] He was named the Israeli Basketball Super League Most Improved Player in 2015.

In July 2016, Rothbart signed with Hapoel Eilat.[6]

On August 17, 2017, Rothbart signed with Maccabi Kiryat Gat, joining his former head coach Roi Hagai.[7] In 35 games played for Kiryat Gat, he averaged 18.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 blocks per game. Rothbart helped Kiryat Gat reach the Liga Leumit Finals, where they eventually lost to Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

On June 4, 2018, Rothbart returned to France for a second stint, signing a one-year deal with a second year option with ESSM Le Portel of the LNB Pro A league.[8] However, on November 11, Rothbart parted ways with Le Portel to join Hapoel Be'er Sheva for the rest of the season.[9]

On July 14, 2019, Rothbart signed a one-year deal with Elitzur Eito Ashkelon of the Israeli National League.[10]

Personal

Robert holds citizenship for a few countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, the United States of America, and Israel.[1][5]

References

  1. ^ "Rothbart Signs With Hoosiers". iuhoosiers.com
  2. ^ "Robert Rothbart". yahoo.com
  3. ^ UNION OLIMPIJA signs big Rothbart
  4. ^ Hapoel Tel Aviv signs Robert Rothbart to a two-year contract
  5. ^ Pick, Dubi (12 July 2015). "רשמי: רוברט רות'בארט חתם לשנתיים בהפועל ת"א". ONE. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  6. ^ Robert Rothbat signs with Hapoel Eilat
  7. ^ "Robert Rothbart signed with Kiryat Gat" (in Hebrew). walla.co.il. August 17, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  8. ^ "Le Portel signs Robert Rothbart". Sportando.com. June 4, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  9. ^ "he:רוברט רות'בארט מצטרף לעולה החדשה" (in Hebrew). basket.co.il. November 11, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  10. ^ "רועי חגאי מונה למאמן אשקלון, רות'בארט חתם" (in Hebrew). ONE.co.il. July 14, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2019.