Marcin Gortat life and biography

Marcin Gortat is a Polish Basketball player which is now playing as forward for the Phoenix Suns of NBA.

2009-10 SEASON:
Appeared in 81 games with Orlando, averaging 3.6 ppg. and 4.2 rpg. in 13.4 minpg….Also played in all 14 playoff outings, averaging 3.0 ppg. and 4.4 rpg. in 15.1 minpg….Led (or tied) the team in rebounding six times…Scored in double figures twice, including a career-high-tying 16 points on Apr. 14 vs. Philadelphia…Recorded double figures in rebounding four times, including a season-best 12 rebounds on Jan. 9 vs. Atlanta and on Feb. 10 @ Chicago…Had at least one blocked shot 40 times and two-or-more blocks 19 times, including a season-high four blocks three times, the last on Jan. 22 vs. Sacramento…Tallied a career-high-tying two steals twice, the last time on Mar. 1 @ Philadelphia…Did not play on Nov. 16 due to the flu.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER:

Has appeared in 150 regular season games during his NBA career, all with Orlando, averaging 3.7 ppg. and 4.3 rpg. in 12.8 minpg.…Also played in 46 career postseason games, averaging 2.8 ppg. and 3.2 rpg. in 11.5 minpg….2008-09: Played in 63 games with the Magic, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 4.5 rpg. in 12.6 minpg….Made three starts, averaging 10.0 ppg., 11.7 rpg., 1.7 apg. and 3.00 blkpg. in 33.7 minpg. during that span…During the playoffs, appeared in all 24 games, averaging 3.3 ppg. and 3.2 rpg. in 11.3 minpg., helping the Magic reach the NBA Finals…Led (or tied) the team in rebounding seven times, including a career-high 18 rebounds on Apr. 13 @ Milwaukee…Scored in double figures seven times, including a career-high 16 points (and had 13 boards) on Dec. 15 @ Golden State…Posted four double-doubles…Blocked at least one shot 32 times, including a career-high five blocks on Dec. 13 @ Utah…Made first career start on Dec. 13 @ Utah (4 pts., 4 rebs., 4 blks., 1 stl., 30 mins.)…DNP-CD 17 times…On the Inactive List twice: once due to a sprained left ankle (Dec. 5) and once on Nov. 22…In the postseason, made one start on Apr. 30 @ Philadelphia, tallying playoff career-highs of 11 points, 15 rebounds and four steals in 40 minutes…Recorded playoff career-high four blocks on June 4 @ L.A. Lakers…2007-08: Played in six games during his rookie campaign with Orlando, averaging 3.0 ppg. and 2.7 rpg. in 6.8 minpg….Also appeared in eight games during the NBA Playoffs, averaging 1.3 ppg. and 1.0 rpg. in 6.0 minpg….Became just the third player from Poland to ever appear in an NBA regular season game on Mar. 1 vs. New York, where he recorded two points and one rebound in two minutes…Tallied first double-double of career with 12 points and 11 rebounds in 28 minutes on Apr. 16 vs. Washington…On the Inactive List for 73 games and DNP-CD three times…Assigned to Anaheim of the NBA Development League on Nov. 20…With Anaheim, averaged 9.8 ppg. and 6.8 rpg. in 27.8 minpg., while shooting .488 (21-43) from the field in five games…Recalled on Dec. 2.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:

Selected by Phoenix in the second round (57th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft…Traded by Phoenix to Orlando in exchange for cash considerations (Jun. 28, 2005)…Signed an offer sheet as a restricted free agent by Dallas (Jul. 8, 2009)…Retained by Orlando (Jul. 13, 2009).

PERSONAL:

Grew up in Lodz, Poland…Son of legendary Polish boxer Janusz Gortat, who was a two-time Olympic bronze medalist in the lightweight division…
The elder Gortat was defeated by eventual winner Leon Spinks (USA) in the 1976 Olympics…
Nicknamed the Polish Hammer…
Wears a shoe size 15…
Lists his favorite food as "Polish whole food made by Mom or Grandma"…
Favorite college team is Duke and favorite NFL team is the Atlanta Falcons…
Favorite number is 13, the same as his jersey…
Spent considerable time giving back to the Central Florida community, appearing at Orlando Magic Youth Basketball Camps in the summer, spending time with military personnel after the team’s annual Seats for Soldiers Nights and appearing at the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation’s annual events, the Players Championship for Charity Golf Tournament and the OMYF Black Tie & Tennies Charity Gala…
Also appears at numerous events throughout the season with fans and annually sponsors a ticket group that gives tickets to local non-profit organizations and at-risk youth.

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