- Viktor Sanikidze
Infobox Euroleague Player
name = Viktor Sanikidze
nicknames =
image_size = 150px
caption =
league = KML
BBLULEB Eurocup
team =Tartu Ülikool/Rock
number = 13
position =Small forward
Power forward
height_ft = 6
height_in = 8
weight_lbs = 200
birth_date = birth date and age|1986|4|1
birth_place =Tbilisi ,Georgian SSR ,Soviet Union
nationality = flagicon|Georgia Georgian
highschool =
college = Globe Tech Junior College
draft = 42nd overall
draft_year = 2004
draft_team =Atlanta Hawks
career_start = 2003
career_end =
former_teams= SAOS JDA Dijon (2003-06)
MMT Estudiantes (2006-07)
awards = Georgian League All-Star GameMVP 2008
Georgian League Slam Dunk Contest Champion 2008Viktor Sanikidze (born
April 1 ,1986 , inTbilisi ,Georgian SSR ,Soviet Union ) [http://www.nba.com/draft2004/profiles/ViktorSanikidze.html Profile at NBA.com.] ] is a Georgian professionalbasketball player, who plays in EstonianSEB Korvpalli Meistriliiga , forTartu Ülikool/Rock . He plays at both thesmall forward and power forward positions.Early years
Sanikidze began his career with the Academy Tbilisi youth teams in the Georgian Republic. In the 2001-02 season, Sanikidze attended and played basketball for Globe Tech Junior College in
New York City . In the 2002-03 season, he returned home to Georgia to play once again for Academy Tbilisi.Pro career
Europe
In 2003, Sanikidze signed with SAOS JDA Dijon, a pro club in the French Pro A League and a club competing in the European third tier league, the FIBA Euro Cup, at the time he joined the team. JDA Dijon made the Euro Cup finals, where they lost to
Mitteldeutscher BC during Sanikidze's first season with the club. . He spent three seasons in France (2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06).Sanikidze spent the 2006-07 season with the Spanish ACB League club MMT Estudiantes, a team that was also competing in the European third tier league, the FIBA Euro Cup, at the time he joined the team. He missed the entire the 2007-08 season due to injury.
Sanikidze joined the Estonian League club
Tartu Ülikool/Rock for the 2008-09 season. Tartu Rock also competes in theULEB Eurocup League, the second tier level of European-wide basketball and the regional Baltic League.NBA
Sanikidze was selected with the 42nd pick of the
2004 NBA Draft by theAtlanta Hawks , but his draft rights were traded the same day to theSan Antonio Spurs for a2005 NBA Draft second-round pick and cash considerations. [http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/sanikidze_040625.html Trade details from NBA.com.] ] The Spurs still hold hisNBA player rights, but they have yet to sign him to a contract, and he continues to play in Europe. In July 2007, Sanikidze played for San Antonio's summer league squad during theRocky Mountain Revue Summer League, scoring 15 points in a Spurs loss to thePhiladelphia 76ers ' summer league squad. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=rockymountainday2 Rocky Mountain notebook: Horford proving "he is ready for this level".] ] [ [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,685193574,00.html Jazz guards take their shot.] ]Georgian national team
Sanikidze also played with the Republic of Georgia's junior national teams. With Georgia's junior teams, he played at the
FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship in 2004, and also at the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship B Division Tournament at Ostchem in 2006. [http://mamuli.net/geosports/sppro/bpg/publication_view.asp?InfoID=425&iabspos=1&vjob=vsub,171 Game story from Ostchem U20 European Championship Division B.] ]He is currently a member of the senior Georgian national basketball team, which currently competes in the European B Division. With Georgia's senior team, he played at the 2008-09 European Championship B Division Qualifying Tournament.
References
External links
* [http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.playerID_45506.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2009.roundID_6327.teamID_2187.html FIBAEurope.com Player Profile]
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