Robert Rothbart (; born Boris Kajmaković on June 16, 1986) is a Bosnian born Serbian-Israeli professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
player playing the position of
center
Center or centre may refer to:
Mathematics
*Center (geometry), the middle of an object
* Center (algebra), used in various contexts
** Center (group theory)
** Center (ring theory)
* Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...
Sarajevo
Sarajevo ( ), ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'' is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 2 ...
, the capital of
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...
, which was at the time part of the former
Yugoslavia
, common_name = Yugoslavia
, life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation
, p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia
, flag_p ...
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
, where they stayed for two years before moving to the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
when he was eight years old.
After graduating from
The Harker School
The Harker School is a private, co-educational school located in San Jose, California. Founded in 1893 as Manzanita Hall, Harker has three campuses: Bucknall, Union, and Saratoga, named after the streets on which they lie.
Overview
The Buc ...
, a private elementary school in
San Jose, California
San Jose, officially the City of San José ( ; ), is a cultural, commercial, and political center within Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. With a city population of 997,368 and a metropolitan area population of 1.95 million, it is ...
Mountain View, California
Mountain View is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. Named for its views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the population was 82,376 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census.
Mountain V ...
),
Monta Vista High School
Monta Vista High School is a four-year public high school in Cupertino, California. Part of the Fremont Union High School District, the school serves most of the area of western Cupertino. In 2020, Monta Vista was ranked by ''Newsweek'' as the ...
(
Cupertino, California
Cupertino ( ) is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States, directly west of San Jose, California, San Jose on the western edge of the Santa Clara Valley with portions extending into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The ...
Sacramento, California
Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat, seat of Sacramento County, California, Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento Rive ...
). During his stay in Sacramento, he was involved in the Serbian community and was mentored by Serbian-born NBA star
Vlade Divac
Vlade Divac ( sr-Cyrl, Владе Дивац, ; born February 3, 1968) is a Serbian professional basketball executive and former player who was most recently the vice president of basketball operations and general manager of the Sacramento King ...
. Rothbart pulled out of the
2004 NBA draft
The 2004 NBA draft was held on June 24, 2004, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and was broadcast live on ESPN at 7:00 pm ( EDT). In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur colle ...
before trying his luck a year later in the
2005 NBA draft
The 2005 NBA draft took place on June 28, 2005, in the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players fro ...
, but he went undrafted.
Professional career
Although he initially committed to
Indiana University
Indiana University (IU) is a state university system, system of Public university, public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. The system has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration o ...
, Rothbart decided in the summer of 2004 to skip college and play in Europe, where he's active today.
After two seasons with
Paris Basket Racing
Paris Basket Racing, or PBR, was a French professional basketball club from Paris. It was founded in 1922, as the basketball section of the sports club, multi-sports club Racing Club de Paris. The team took the name "Paris Basket Racing" in 2000. ...
in the French Pro A league and one season with Israeli club
Hapoel Galil Elyon
Hapoel Galil Elyon (), also known as Hapoel Nofar Energy Galil Elion for sponsorship reasons, is an Israeli basketball club. The team competes in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, the top tier of Israeli basketball, and internationally in t ...
, Rothbart moved back to play in his birth country of Bosnia and Herzegovina to play for
Borac Banja Luka
Fudbalski klub Borac Banja Luka (Serbian Cyrillic: Фудбалски клуб Бopaц Бања Лука, ) is a Bosnian Serb professional football club, based in the city of Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is the main ...
in the local
First League of Republika Srpska
The First League of the Republika Srpska ( / ) is a football league in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Together with the First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it forms the second level of football in Bosnia and Herz ...
.
Prior to the 2008–09 season, he returned to the Israeli League, this time signing with
Ironi Nahariya
Ironi Nahariya Basketball Club () known for sponsorship reasons as Ironi Rain Nahariya () is a professional basketball club based in city of Nahariya in northern Israel. The team plays in the Liga Leumit (the second tier of Israeli basketball) and ...
Israeli Basketball State Cup
The Israeli Basketball State Cup () is the second most important professional basketball competition in Israel, after the Israeli Super League. It is the national federation cup of Israel. The tournament began in the 1955–56 season, and is run ...
semi-finals.
In the summer of 2010, Rothbart signed to play for
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa () is one of the biggest sports clubs in Israel and a part of the Maccabi association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Haifa which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, such as Football, Basketball, Weightl ...
.
In August 2011, Rothbart signed with
Union Olimpija
Košarkarski klub Olimpija () was a men's professional basketball club based in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Olimpija has won 23 National League championships, including eight consecutive titles between 1992 and 1999. They have played in two differen ...
KK Igokea
Košarkaški klub Igokea ( sr-Cyrl, Кошаркашки клуб Игокеа), commonly referred to as KK Igokea or as Igokea m:tel due to sponsorship reasons, is a Bosnian professional basketball club based in Aleksandrovac, near Laktaši, Re ...
, in 2014.
In July 2015, Rothbart signed a 2-year deal with
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Hapoel Tel Aviv () is a sports club in Israel, founded in the 1920s, and part of the Hapoel association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Tel Aviv which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, such as football, basketball, w ...
after being named the Israeli League's Most Improved Player and MVP of the league's all-star game in the previous season. He was named the Israeli Basketball Super League Most Improved Player in 2015.
In July 2016, Rothbart signed with Hapoel Eilat.
On August 17, 2017, Rothbart signed with
Maccabi Kiryat Gat
Maccabi Kiryat Gat F.C. () was an Israeli football team based in the southern city of Kiryat Gat. The club's best achievement has been promotion to the Premier League as Liga Leumit runners-up in 2001, after beating Hapoel Beit She'an on the f ...
, joining his former head coach Roi Hagai. 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
The Israeli Liga Leumit (, HaLiga HaLeumit, ) is the second division of the professional Israeli association football (soccer) league system. This second-tier league is placed directly below the Israeli Premier League.
Structure
There are 16 ...
Finals, where they eventually lost to
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Hapoel Be'er Sheva Football Club (, ''Moadon HaKaduregel Hapoel Be'er Sheva'') is an Israeli professional association football, football club from the city of Beersheba, Be'er Sheva, that competes in the Israeli Premier League. The club was estab ...
.
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
Étoile Sportive Saint-Michel Le Portel Côte d'Opale, commonly known as ESSM Le Portel or simply Le Portel, is a professional basketball team based in Le Portel, France. The team currently plays in the LNB Pro A, Pro A, the first tier in France.
...
of the
LNB Pro A LNB may refer to:
Sport
* Liga Nacional de Baloncesto, a professional basketball league in the Dominican Republic
* Liga Nacional de Básquetbol, an Argentine basketball league
* Liga Nacional de Básquetbol (Paraguay), Liga Nacional de Básquetb ...
league. However, on November 11, Rothbart parted ways with Le Portel to join
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Hapoel Be'er Sheva Football Club (, ''Moadon HaKaduregel Hapoel Be'er Sheva'') is an Israeli professional association football, football club from the city of Beersheba, Be'er Sheva, that competes in the Israeli Premier League. The club was estab ...
for the rest of the season.
On July 14, 2019, Rothbart signed a one-year deal with
Elitzur Eito Ashkelon
Elitzur Eito Ashkelon () is a professional basketball team based in Ashkelon in south west Israel. The club currently plays in Liga Leumit (basketball), Israeli National League.Israeli National League.
Personal
Robert holds citizenship for a few countries including
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...
,
Serbia
, image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg
, national_motto =
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg
, national_anthem = ()
, image_map =
, map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...
, the
United States of America
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...
, and
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...