Poland is home to many leading sports stars, some of which play their trade abroad whereas others compete in their chosen sport at home. Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the country and a leading name in Poland is Lukasz Koszarek. That's not to say Koszarek has never played abroad and you will find out more about that shortly but first let's take a look at the beginning of his career in basketball.
Koszarek was born in Września, Poland in 1984 and has played as a point guard throughout his career. As a professional player, Koszarek started at Polonia Warszawa in the 2003/04 season but struggled to make a big impact. He was forced to settle for short bursts of action off the bench. That soon changed in the following season and Koszarek quickly became an important member of the Polonia Warszawa team.
During the 2004/05 season, Koszarek left his mark on the team by scoring an average of 11.6 points and 4.8 assists per game. He helped Polonia Warszawa to finish third that season and in 2006 Koszarek made the move to Turów Zgorzelec. Interestingly, also in 2006 Koszarek was available in the NBA Draft. However, as is the case with many players who enter the NBA Draft, even those who have experience of playing in the competition, Koszarek was undrafted.
Having played just one year with Turów Zgorzelec, a club which has since been dissolved, Koszarek won his first competition as a professional basketball player with Anwil Włocławek. Again, it was to be a short stint lasting only two years before Koszarek was on the move once again, this time joining Juvecaserta. This is an Italian professional basketball team based in Caserta, Campania and is the only foreign team Koszarek has played for to date during is career.
Returning to Poland, Koszarek has since played for three different teams including Trefl Sopot, Asseco Prokom and Stelmet Zielona Góra. Having signed for Zielona Góra in the middle of the 2012-13 season, Koszarek has found his home and enjoyed several successful seasons with the team. He continues to play with them at the time of writing.
2. National Team Record
The first call to the Polish national team came in 2007 and Koszarek joined his fellow countryman at EuroBasket 2007. It was a disappointing event for Poland who finished bottom of their group but better was to come in 2009, as they hosted the competition. Poland reached the second round and Koszarek made a significant contribution to the team, ranking 2nd for assists, 4th for rebounds and 5th for total number of points.
Koszarek continued to represent Poland at EuroBasket tournaments including those in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. Although, his biggest success on the national stage, is the 8th place with Poland at Basketball World Cup in 2019. In February 2020, Koszarek contributed points as Poland defeated World Champions Spain in a 2021 European Championships qualifier. In doing so, he made his 200th appearance for the national team.
3. How Many Gold Medals?
As highlighted above, Koszarek claimed his first medal during his time with Anwil Włocławek, lifting the Polish SuperCup in 2007. He also won the Polish Cup with Trefl Sopot in 2012, ending a drought of 5 years without a trophy. Then came the most successful spell in Koszarek’s career in terms of honours.
Competition
Honours
Polish league
5 time champion (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020), 3 time silver medalist (2007, 2012, 2014), 3 time bronze medalist (2004, 2005, 2009)
Polish Cup
3 time winner (2012, 2015, 2017)
Polish Supercup
2 time winner (2007, 2015)
National Team
Member of Polish National Team on: Eurobasket 2007, Eurobasket 2009, Eurobasket 2011, Eurobasket 2013, Eurobasket 2015, Eurobasket 2017, World Cup 2019
Koszarek won the Polish PLK 5 times with Zielona Góra between 2013 and 2020. Last time in 2020. Because of coronavirus outbreak, the 2019/20 season was ended early and his team Stelmet were crowned as champions in March.
He won the Polish Cup twice and the SuperCup once with the same team. In addition to team honours, Koszarek’s individual talent has been recognised with three PLK Best Polish Player awards plus two Polish Cup MVP awards, including one in 2017.
Łukasz Koszarek - Best Polish Point Guard in History
Poland is home to many leading sports stars, some of which play their trade abroad whereas others compete in their chosen sport at home. Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the country and a leading name in Poland is Lukasz Koszarek. That's not to say Koszarek has never played abroad and you will find out more about that shortly but first let's take a look at the beginning of his career in basketball.
Contents
1. Road to Polish Championship
Koszarek was born in Września, Poland in 1984 and has played as a point guard throughout his career. As a professional player, Koszarek started at Polonia Warszawa in the 2003/04 season but struggled to make a big impact. He was forced to settle for short bursts of action off the bench. That soon changed in the following season and Koszarek quickly became an important member of the Polonia Warszawa team.
During the 2004/05 season, Koszarek left his mark on the team by scoring an average of 11.6 points and 4.8 assists per game. He helped Polonia Warszawa to finish third that season and in 2006 Koszarek made the move to Turów Zgorzelec. Interestingly, also in 2006 Koszarek was available in the NBA Draft. However, as is the case with many players who enter the NBA Draft, even those who have experience of playing in the competition, Koszarek was undrafted.
Having played just one year with Turów Zgorzelec, a club which has since been dissolved, Koszarek won his first competition as a professional basketball player with Anwil Włocławek. Again, it was to be a short stint lasting only two years before Koszarek was on the move once again, this time joining Juvecaserta. This is an Italian professional basketball team based in Caserta, Campania and is the only foreign team Koszarek has played for to date during is career.
Returning to Poland, Koszarek has since played for three different teams including Trefl Sopot, Asseco Prokom and Stelmet Zielona Góra. Having signed for Zielona Góra in the middle of the 2012-13 season, Koszarek has found his home and enjoyed several successful seasons with the team. He continues to play with them at the time of writing.
2. National Team Record
The first call to the Polish national team came in 2007 and Koszarek joined his fellow countryman at EuroBasket 2007. It was a disappointing event for Poland who finished bottom of their group but better was to come in 2009, as they hosted the competition. Poland reached the second round and Koszarek made a significant contribution to the team, ranking 2nd for assists, 4th for rebounds and 5th for total number of points.
Koszarek continued to represent Poland at EuroBasket tournaments including those in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. Although, his biggest success on the national stage, is the 8th place with Poland at Basketball World Cup in 2019. In February 2020, Koszarek contributed points as Poland defeated World Champions Spain in a 2021 European Championships qualifier. In doing so, he made his 200th appearance for the national team.
3. How Many Gold Medals?
As highlighted above, Koszarek claimed his first medal during his time with Anwil Włocławek, lifting the Polish SuperCup in 2007. He also won the Polish Cup with Trefl Sopot in 2012, ending a drought of 5 years without a trophy. Then came the most successful spell in Koszarek’s career in terms of honours.
Koszarek won the Polish PLK 5 times with Zielona Góra between 2013 and 2020. Last time in 2020. Because of coronavirus outbreak, the 2019/20 season was ended early and his team Stelmet were crowned as champions in March.
He won the Polish Cup twice and the SuperCup once with the same team. In addition to team honours, Koszarek’s individual talent has been recognised with three PLK Best Polish Player awards plus two Polish Cup MVP awards, including one in 2017.