Stanislav Kropilák (10 June 1955 – 14 October 2022) was a Slovak basketball player. At a height of 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m), he was a

power forward The power forward (PF), also known as the four, is one of the five traditional Basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game. Traditionally, power forwards have played a role similar to center (basketball), centers and are typi ...

- center. He is considered to be one of the best European players of his generation. Kropilák was named one of

FIBA's 50 Greatest Players FIBA's 50 Greatest Players (1991) is the list of the 50 greatest players in the history of FIBA international basketball, as selected in 1991, by FIBA Magazine. History Background In June 1991, FIBA organised the Jubilee Game between Europe an ...

in 1991. His nickname as a player was Kily.

Professional career

In his club career, Kropilák won five

Czechoslovak Basketball League The Czechoslovak Basketball League (abbreviation CSBL) was the highest level professional club basketball competition for men in Czechoslovakia. Its successor national league in the Czech Republic became the Mattoni NBL, and its successor nation ...

championships (1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985). He was named to the Czechoslovak League All-Star Five ten times (1976–1985). He was also named to the

FIBA European Selection The FIBA Europe All-Star Game was the all-star basketball exhibition game, which was also known as the "FIBA Europe Festival". The "FIBA Europe Festival All-Star Game" was held from 1964 to 1995. It was organized by FIBA Europe. The FIBA Europe ...

four times (twice in 1981, 1982, 1987).

National team career

Kropilák competed for Czechoslovakia at the 1976 Summer Olympics and

1980 Summer Olympics The 1980 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad () and officially branded as Moscow 1980 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 19 July to 3 August 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union, in present-day Russ ...

. He helped to lead the senior Czechoslovak national team to a silver medal at the 1985 EuroBasket, and to bronze medals at the 1977 EuroBasket and the 1981 EuroBasket. He was also named to the 1983 EuroBasket's All-Tournament Team.

Personal life and death

Kropilák died on 14 October 2022, at the age of 67.

References

External links

FIBA.com Profile

* * * 1955 births 2022 deaths Basketball players at the 1976 Summer Olympics Basketball players at the 1980 Summer Olympics BBC Amicale Steinsel players BK Inter Bratislava players BK Pardubice players Centers (basketball) CEP Fleurus players Czechoslovak men's basketball players 1978 FIBA World Championship players 1982 FIBA World Championship players Olympic basketball players for Czechoslovakia Power forwards Slovak men's basketball players Spirou Charleroi players People from Kremnica Sportspeople from the Banská Bystrica Region FIBA Hall of Fame inductees Slovak expatriate basketball people in Belgium Expatriate basketball people in Luxembourg Czechoslovak expatriate sportspeople in Belgium {{Czechoslovakia-sport-bio-stub

Professional career

National team career

Personal life and death

See also

References

External links