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.

Fabijan Krslovic joined the Cairns Taipans as a development player in 2018, a season that marked significant change for the franchise. Long-time head coach Aaron Fearne parted ways with the team after eight years, and Mike Kelly stepped in to lead a roster undergoing substantial rebuilding. Key players Cameron Gliddon (to Brisbane), Mitchell McCarron (to Melbourne), Jarrad Weeks (to New Zealand), and Stephen Weigh (retired) all departed, leaving Kelly with the task of forming a competitive team with limited time before the season began.

To address these losses, Kelly added Rob Loe (via New Zealand) and a trio of imports: Melo Trimble, Devon Hall, and DJ Newbill. Retaining veterans Nathan Jawai, Alex Loughton, and Jarrod Kenny for their leadership, the Taipans opened the season with a commanding victory over Brisbane (88-70). However, inconsistency plagued the team as they endured a six-game losing streak between 21 October and 9 November 2018. Despite these struggles, Cairns managed several standout wins, including a shocking upset over Perth (81-79) and a dominant 109-80 blowout of Brisbane.

The Taipans struggled to find their footing both at home (3-11) and on the road (3-11), finishing the season with a league-worst record of 6-22. While wins were scarce, the one-two punch of 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) stood out. Trimble earned a spot on the All-NBL Second Team and was named the Taipans’ club MVP.

Fabijan Krslovic contributed off the bench, averaging 1.9 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. Despite limited minutes, he displayed tenacity on the defensive end, using his physicality and hustle to make an impact when called upon. His standout performance came against Adelaide (2 February 2019), where he recorded 11 points and 7 rebounds, demonstrating his potential when given extended playing time.

Veterans Nathan Jawai (10.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists) and Devon Hall (8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists) also provided steady contributions, with Jawai’s minutes and production nearly doubling from the previous season. However, the lack of pre-season preparation and substantial roster turnover hampered the Taipans’ ability to build momentum, resulting in one of the worst records in franchise history.

2019/20
Fabijan Krslovic entered the 2019/20 season as a fully contracted player for the Cairns Taipans, building on his contributions as a development player in the previous season. In his second year with the team, Krslovic provided valuable minutes off the bench, averaging 2.7 points and 2.6 rebounds. Known for his defensive hustle and ability to contribute in key moments, Krslovic became a reliable role player within the Taipans’ rotation.

Cairns enjoyed a strong campaign, finishing the regular season in third place with a 16-12 record. The team’s success marked a significant turnaround and showcased their ability to compete with the league’s top teams.

2020/21
During the 2020/21 season, Fabijan Krslovic stepped up significantly for the Cairns Taipans, starting in 20 games amidst a wave of injuries to the team. He averaged career highs of 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, including recording his first career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in a victory over Sydney. Despite his contributions, the Taipans endured a challenging season, finishing in ninth place with an 8-28 record.

At the conclusion of the season, Krslovic’s contract with Cairns ended. Shortly after, he began discussions with the league’s newest franchise, the Tasmania JackJumpers. The JackJumpers, aiming to assemble a young and dynamic core, offered Krslovic a multi-year deal, making his decision to relocate to Tasmania for his fourth NBL season an easy one.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
2021/22
The Tasmania JackJumpers entered their inaugural NBL season with low expectations, reflected in their 400:1 championship odds from various betting agencies. However, they made an immediate impression, defeating the Brisbane Bullets 83–74 in overtime at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart during their debut game on 3 December 2021. Following this win, the team struggled to find consistency, managing just one more victory by Round 8 and sitting at ninth place with a 2-6 record.

The team faced further challenges when marquee signing Will Magnay suffered a season-ending injury, forcing head coach Scott Roth to pivot their strategy away from perimeter shooting to a more balanced approach. This adjustment proved successful, as the JackJumpers won 10 of their last 12 games, finishing the regular season with a 17–11 record and claiming fifth place on the ladder.

Krslovic and the JackJumpers were not finished yet. In a dramatic turn of events, the South East Melbourne Phoenix defeated the Perth Wildcats in the final game of the season, allowing Tasmania to overtake Perth for fourth place via points percentage. Krslovic contributed consistently throughout the season, averaging 4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists. The JackJumpers’ reward was a semifinals matchup against reigning champions Melbourne United.

Tasmania dropped Game 1 to Melbourne (74-63) on United’s home court but leveled the series with a hard-fought win at home, forcing a decisive Game 3. A significant break came when United’s captain, Chris Goulding, was ruled out due to injury. The JackJumpers capitalized on this opportunity, defeating Melbourne in a thrilling 76-73 encounter to secure a place in the Grand Final series.

In the Grand Final, Tasmania faced the Sydney Kings, who had swept the Illawarra Hawks in their semifinals matchup. The Kings dominated Game 1, defeating the JackJumpers 95-78. Game 2 marked a historic moment, as Tasmania hosted its first-ever NBL Grand Final game. American guard Josh Adams delivered a standout 36-point performance, nearly pulling off a massive upset. However, the Kings edged out a 90-86 victory, clinched by a long-range dagger from Dejan Vasiljevic in the closing moments.

Dejan Vasiljevic with the 𝘿𝘼𝙂𝙂𝙀𝙍 🗡️
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– 📺 Watch the #NBLFinals Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/XDIgoHVKo9

— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) May 8, 2022

The series concluded with the Kings claiming the championship in Game 3, defeating Tasmania in front of a roaring 16,000-strong crowd at Qudos Bank Arena. Sydney’s Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin combined for 45 points and 29 rebounds, leading the Kings to their first title in 17 years and capping off a dominant run with 19 wins in their final 21 games.

2022/23
In their second year, the Tasmania JackJumpers entered the season with a largely intact roster, retaining key contributors under multi-year deals. The offseason saw the departure of import duo Josh Adams and MiKyle McIntosh, prompting head coach Scott Roth to bring in Milton Doyle and Rashard Kelly as their replacements.

The team faced early setbacks with injuries to Will Magnay (5.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks) and captain Clint Steindl (4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists), who was sidelined following a knee injury sustained during the FIBA Asia Cup. These absences contributed to a rocky start, with losses to South East Melbourne (79–84), Cairns (84–106), and New Zealand (65–71) placing Tasmania at the bottom of the ladder alongside Brisbane after three games. The JackJumpers secured their first win in overtime against Brisbane (90–86), with Milton Doyle leading the way with 32 points and 4 assists.

A four-game winning streak followed, vaulting the JackJumpers back into playoff contention. Milton Doyle (17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals) emerged as the team’s leading scorer and primary playmaker, while Jack McVeigh (14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) continued his upward trajectory, delivering his best NBL season to date.

Tasmania finished the regular season with a 16-12 record, securing fourth place and a spot in the debut NBL play-in tournament. However, the team faced a significant blow when starting point guard Josh Magette (10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.0 steals) suffered a fractured eye socket in the final regular-season game against Illawarra, ruling him out of the playoffs. Rashard Kelly (12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists), Isaac White (5.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.6 assists), and development player Sean MacDonald (6.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) were called upon to fill the void.

In the play-in tournament, Tasmania defeated Cairns (87–79) to advance to the semifinals against the second-seeded New Zealand Breakers (18-10). In Game 1, the JackJumpers struggled offensively, scoring just 68 points—their third-lowest total of the season. Rashard Kelly (12 points) and Milton Doyle (10 points) were the only players in double figures. Doyle bounced back in Game 2, delivering 23 points and 5 assists to propel Tasmania to a home win (89–78), leveling the series. However, New Zealand proved too strong in the decider, defeating Tasmania 92–77 to end the JackJumpers’ season.

Milton Doyle earned multiple accolades for his exceptional season, becoming the first JackJumpers player to be named to the All-NBL First Team and securing the club’s MVP award. Jack McVeigh was named Fan Favourite, Will Magnay earned Defensive Player honors, Isaac White was recognized with the Players’ Award, and Sean MacDonald took home the Coaches’ Award.

Krslovic played a steady role throughout the season, averaging 5.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists across 32 games. His best performance came in a victory over Illawarra (92–89), where he posted 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, underscoring his value as a versatile and dependable presence for the JackJumpers.

2023/24
After establishing himself as a key part of the JackJumpers’ program during the 2022/23 season, Fabijan Krslovic entered the 2023/24 season committed to building on the team’s success. Having played all 32 games in the previous season, the 27-year-old forward solidified his role as a dependable presence in Tasmania’s rotation.

Ahead of the season, Krslovic signed a two-year contract extension, ensuring his place in the JackJumpers’ lineup until at least the 2024/25 season. Reflecting on his decision to stay, Krslovic said, “I’m really excited to stay in Tassie and continue to build on the success of the first two years of the JackJumpers. 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 199 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 3.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists since entering the league in 2018.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Tasmania JackJumpers – 2 Year Deal (2023-25)

Dan Boyce (827 Posts)

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.