Vít Krejčí, a Czech professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks, credits his parents for his successful athletic career.
His father was a soldier and a paramedic, while his mother worked as a secretary. She now works as a nurse.
Vít played basketball for the youth academy of Sokol Pisek and joined the Spanish basketball club, Zaragoza, at the age of 14.
During the 2016–17 season, he played for the Anagan Olivar, the reserve team of Zaragoza, in the Liga EBA. He tied with Sergi García as the second-youngest debutant in club history, behind Carlos Alocén, and was named to the ACB All-Young Players Team.
On April 17, 2020, Vít declared for the 2020 NBA draft, and the Washington Wizards selected him in the second round with the 37th overall pick.
However, he was subsequently traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and signed with the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s NBA G League affiliate, on January 28, 2021.
On September 2, 2021, he signed a multi-year deal with the Thunder, but was traded to the Atlanta Hawks on September 27, 2022.
After signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Iowa Wolves in 2023, he returned to the Hawks on December 22, 2023, and subsequently signed a four-year contract.
Vít Krejčí’s Parents are the Supportive Pillars in His Athletic Journey
Vít Krejčí is a professional basketball player who was born on June 19, 2000, in Strakonice, Czech Republic. His actual surname was Krescova.
He grew up in a close-knit family with his father, Vít Krejčí Sr., his mother, and his older sister, Jolana.
Vít’s father worked as a soldier and paramedic, and his mother worked as a secretary. His love for basketball runs in the family, and his parents were always very supportive.
His father played basketball for Strakonice in the Czech Republic local league for about 10 years, inspiring Vít’s own passion for the game.
He received a life-changing offer at just 14 to join the Spanish team, Zaragoza, and he moved to Spain with his mother, living in tourist housing while he pursued his dream.
Nobody there spoke English, so the club hired a Spanish tutor. Those first months were brutally hard. Training from eight to three, then school. I didn’t see my family for a whole year, and I kept putting pressure on myself. I felt like, now it’s for real. I’d sacrificed so much, I couldn’t let it slip away.
Vít Krejčí
Vít’s family made many sacrifices for his career.
His mother even took on a second job to help cover costs, and she always ensured he kept up with his schoolwork.
Vít has grown into a successful NBA player due to his parents’ strong foundation and his own hard work.
Vít Krejčí’s Sister Inspired an NBA Player
Vít Krejčí’s journey to the NBA began not with his own dream, but by following in his older sister, Jolana, who started playing basketball at the age of six.
They grew up in Strakonice, Czech Republic, sharing a small room.
Jolana’s talent was so exceptional that she even represented the Czech National Team at the FIBA U18 Women’s Championship in 2014.
Young Vít spent much of his time watching his sister at her practices, and it was there in the gym that his own interest in the sport began to grow.
Seeing his son’s fascination, their father, who was also a trainer, decided to start working with him on the same court.
While Jolana later chose to focus on her education, the path she paved was the one Vit would follow.
Her early dedication to the game was the spark that ignited Vít’s career, setting him on the path that would eventually lead him to professional basketball in Spain.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Vít Krejčí stands 2.03 m and weighs about 88 kg.
- He represented the Czech Republic on several occasions at the youth level and made his debut for the senior national team during the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification stage.
