Tristan Forsyth
February 1, 2021
Fabijan Krslovic
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 23/06/95
- Place of Birth: Liverpool (NSW)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 108
- Junior Assoc: -
- College: Montana (2014-2018)
- NBL DEBUT: 31/12/18
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 12/10/24
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 29
- NBL History: Cairns 2019-21 | Tasmania 2022-25
- Championships: 1
- Tasmania (2024)
BIO: Fabijan Krslovic was born in Liverpool (NSW) and attended St Aloysius College in Milsons Point (NSW). He grew up in a Croatian family who fled their home country amidst World War II. His parents bought him a Shaquille O’Neal jersey when he started basketball, and he remains a Lakers fan. As a kid, he looked up to Andrew Bogut, a NBA player who also has a Croatian background and was one of Australia’s best players.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Fabijan Krslovic made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 23 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
In 2018, Krslovic was joined Cairns as a development player, at the very same time they chose to part ways with long-time coach Aaron Fearne after eight years of him patrolling the sidelines. Mike Kelly was brought in as his replacement and was tasked with rebuilding a roster that had already lost key players Cameron Gliddon (to Brisbane), Mitchell McCarron (to Melbourne), Jarrad Weeks (to New Zealand), and Stephen Weigh (retired).
With only a short time before the season kicked off, Kelly bolstered the roster by adding free agent Rob Loe (via New Zealand) and a new import trio consisting of Melo Trimble, Devon Hall, and DJ Newbill, while Nathan Jawai, Alex Loughton, and Jarrod Kenny were retained for their experience and leadership. Cairns started the season with a dominant victory over Brisbane (88-70) in their opening game, but consistency soon became an issue. The team endured a six-game losing streak between 21 October and 9 November 2018. Despite these struggles, the Taipans managed some impressive wins later in the season, including a surprise victory over Perth (81-79) and a dominant win over Brisbane (109-80), but an inability to consistently win at home (3-11) or away (3-11) saw them finish the season dead last.
While wins were few and far between, Melo Trimble (21.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals) and DJ Newbill (14.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals) formed a powerful one-two punch this season. Trimble earned a spot on the All-NBL Second Team and was named the Taipans’ club MVP at the end of the season.
Fabijan Krslovic (1.9 points, 1.3 rebounds) played limited minutes off the bench but made the most of his opportunities when called upon. His contributions came mostly on the defensive end, where his physicality and hustle were noticeable. Alongside him, a healthy Nathan Jawai (10.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists), who saw his minutes and production nearly double compared to the previous season, and Devon Hall (8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists) were also key contributors.
Krslovic’s best performance of the season came in a game against the Adelaide 36ers (2 Feb 2019), where he recorded 11 points and 7 rebounds, showcasing his ability to step up when given more minutes.
The lack of pre-season preparation and large roster turnover prevented the Taipans from building momentum, leading to one of the worst records in franchise history (6-22).
2019/20
Krslovic signed with the Cairns Taipans as a fully contracted player prior to the 2019/20 season after playing seven games as a development player in 2019. Krslovic averaged 2.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in his second season with the Taipans who finished the year in third place finish with a record of 16-12.
2020/21
With the Taipans suffering a number of injuries Krslovic started 20 games during the 2020/21 season, averaging a career best 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds which included recording his first double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Sydney. The Taipans finished in ninth place finish during the regular season with a 8-28 record.
Krslovic’s contract with the Taipans finished up in 2021 and shortly after he began talking with the league’s newest franchise, the Tasmania Jackjumpers. With the JackJumpers looking to lock in a young core for their roster they offered Krslovic a multi-year deal and made it a easy decision to move to Tassie for his fourth NBL season.
The JackJumpers debut NBL season began with low expectations, multiple betting agencies gave them 400:1 odds of taking out the championship.
In their NBL debut on 3 December 2021, the JackJumpers defeated the Brisbane Bullets 83–74 in overtime at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart but it was a slow start from them on for the ants.
Heading into round 8 the team had won only one more game and sat in ninth spot with a record of 2-6 record. A season ending injury suffered by marquee signing Will Magnay made things even more difficult and forced the head coach Scott Roth to change their game plan from relying on perimeter shooting to a much more well rounded approach. The move paid off and the team rounded out their season with 10 wins from their last 12 games, finishing with a 17–11 record and fifth spot on the ladder.
Krslovic and the JackJumpers weren’t done however as in true Cinderella fashion, thanks to the South East Melbourne Phoenix beating the Perth Wildcats in the last game of the season, Tasmania overtook Perth to finish in fourth place thanks to points percentage.
Krslovic finished the season averaging 4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists as the JackJumpers drew the reigning champions and first-placed Melbourne United in the semifinals where again they were not expected to fare well.
Tasmania would lose game one to Melbourne on their home court (74-63), before returning the favour on their home court to even the series (1-1). Heading into the deciding game three a additional stroke of luck befell the team with United Captain Chris Goulding unable to play in game three due to injury. Tasmania would take control in the games final moments, defeating Melbourne in a nail-biter (76-73) to advance to the Grand Final series.
The Sydney Kings defeated the Illawarra Hawks 2-0 on the opposite side of the finals bracket and maintained their strong form, defeating Tasmania in Game one of the Grand Final series 95-78.
Game two saw the first NBL Grand Final game ever played in Hobart, where the JackJumpers threw everything they had at the Kings and on the back of a monster performance from American guard Josh Adams the newcomers almost pulled off a huge upset.
Again, the JackJumpers would benefit from a opposition injury when Kings guard Jaylen Adams, who had been named NBL MVP the previous week, suffered a left hamstring injury which would see him miss the remainder of the Grand Final series.
Game two saw JackJumpers fan favourite Josh Adams erupt for 36 points in front of a sell-out Tasmanian crowd, but thanks to 20 point efforts from both captain Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin (who shot 80% from the field) as well as Dejan Vasiljevic, who nailed a long range dagger in the closing minutes clinched game two for the Kings, 90-86. The win was Sydney’s 12th straight road game victory – the most away wins ever during a single NBL season.
Dejan Vasiljevic with the ???????????????????????? ????️
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– ???? Watch the #NBLFinals Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/XDIgoHVKo9— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) May 8, 2022
The Kings then closed out the series in game three, ending their 17-year championship drought in front of 16,000 fans at Qudos Bank Arena. Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin would combine for 45 points and 29 rebounds, and the Kings won their 19th win of their final 21 games.
2023/24
After three seasons with the Cairns Taipans, 27-year-old forward Krslovic has become a key part of the JackJumpers program, playing all 32 games in the 2022/23 NBL season and proving a force in the paint and above the rim.
Krslovic signed a 2-year contract to remain in Tasmania until at least the 2024/25 season.
“I’m really excited to stay in Tassie and continue to build on the success of the first two years of the JackJumpers” Krslovic said.
“Tasmania is home now and I want to continue to represent the amazing people here, both on the floor and out and about in the community. It’s great to be able to have two years locked away and really strive to bring a Championship to Tassie”.
Fabijan Krslovic currently plays for the Tasmania JackJumpers and has played 176 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 3.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 0.7 assists since entering the league in 2018.
CURRENT CONTRACT:
Tasmania JackJumpers – 2 Year Deal (2023-25)
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 29 | Tasmania | 2-3 (8) | 3 | 12.0 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 25% | 0 | 6 | 0% | 4 | 4 | 100% | 36% | 25% | 6 |
| 2023-24 | 28 | Tasmania | 16-12 (3) | 36 | 363.0 | 94 | 102 | 33 | 38 | 64 | 9 | 5 | 22 | 42 | 35 | 101 | 35% | 13 | 37 | 35% | 11 | 21 | 52% | 42% | 41% | 9 |
| 2022-23 | 27 | Tasmania | 16-12 (4) | 32 | 434.0 | 167 | 101 | 31 | 46 | 55 | 19 | 9 | 25 | 66 | 67 | 138 | 49% | 14 | 39 | 36% | 19 | 30 | 63% | 55% | 54% | 14 |
| 2021-22 | 26 | Tasmania | 17-11 (4) | 33 | 464.0 | 131 | 129 | 32 | 53 | 76 | 23 | 11 | 26 | 79 | 53 | 136 | 39% | 13 | 46 | 28% | 12 | 22 | 55% | 45% | 44% | 13 |
| 2020-21 | 26 | Cairns | 8-28 (9) | 32 | 563.0 | 162 | 108 | 29 | 48 | 60 | 25 | 16 | 26 | 66 | 68 | 161 | 42% | 13 | 55 | 24% | 13 | 19 | 68% | 48% | 46% | 15 |
| 2019-20 | 24 | Cairns | 16-12 (3) | 30 | 331.0 | 83 | 71 | 9 | 22 | 49 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 45 | 32 | 77 | 42% | 16 | 45 | 36% | 3 | 5 | 60% | 52% | 52% | 12 |
| 2018-19 | 23 | Cairns | 6-22 (8) | 8 | 31.0 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 70% | 1 | 2 | 50% | 0 | 2 | 0% | 68% | 75% | 11 | Totals | 176 | 2238 | 662 | 537 | 134 | 222 | 315 | 99 | 51 | 118 | 311 | 265 | 635 | 41.7% | 70 | 230 | 30.4% | 62 | 103 | 60.2% | 49% | 47% | 15 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 29 | Tasmania | 2-3 (8) | 3 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 25% | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0% | 1.3 | 1.3 | 100% | 36% | 25% | 6 |
| 2023-24 | 28 | Tasmania | 16-12 (3) | 36 | 10.1 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 35% | 0.4 | 1.0 | 35% | 0.3 | 0.6 | 52% | 42% | 41% | 9 |
| 2022-23 | 27 | Tasmania | 16-12 (4) | 32 | 13.6 | 5.2 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 4.3 | 49% | 0.4 | 1.2 | 36% | 0.6 | 0.9 | 63% | 55% | 54% | 14 |
| 2021-22 | 26 | Tasmania | 17-11 (4) | 33 | 14.1 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 4.1 | 39% | 0.4 | 1.4 | 28% | 0.4 | 0.7 | 55% | 45% | 44% | 13 |
| 2020-21 | 26 | Cairns | 8-28 (9) | 32 | 17.6 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 5.0 | 42% | 0.4 | 1.7 | 24% | 0.4 | 0.6 | 68% | 48% | 46% | 15 |
| 2019-20 | 24 | Cairns | 16-12 (3) | 30 | 11.0 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 42% | 0.5 | 1.5 | 36% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 60% | 52% | 52% | 12 |
| 2018-19 | 23 | Cairns | 6-22 (8) | 8 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 70% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0% | 68% | 75% | 11 | Total | 176 | 12.7 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 3.6 | 41.7% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 30.4% | 0.4 | 1.3 | 60.2% | 49% | 47% | 15 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 15 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Norths 2014 | Cairns 2018-19 | North West Tasmania 2022
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Represented Australia at the Under 17 World Championships in 2012, alongside teammate Mirko Djeric and NBA players Ben Simmons and Dante Exum. Represented Australia at U17 World Championships in Lithuania 2012 winning silver behind the USA.
COLLEGE
Attended University of Montana (2014-2018) playing all 132 games without a miss.
As a freshman and sophomore, he played unselfish basketball, setting up other players and totaling 83 assists in two years. Keying in on defense, he tallied 58 steals and 29 blocks. With the graduation of big man Martin Breunig, his role as a junior changed to that of the main low-post presence. He averaged 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds, both career highs.
Related
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