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    Zac Seljaas: I’m a unique person, family means everything to me

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    By on Asvel, EuroLeague, Interviews, LNB Pro A, News
    Zac Seljaas
    Basketball Sphere

    Zac Seljaas spoke to Basketball Sphere about his remarkably interesting life story and basketball career.

    The American signed a contract with Asvel last summer and quickly became one of the leaders of the French team.

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    He has played 15 EuroLeague games for Asvel so far, averaging 9.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.

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    Dominance against Partizan

    One of Zac Seljaas’ best performances this season came against Partizan in EuroLeague Round 11.

    The French team secured an 88:87 win, with the American finishing the game with 18 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

    ,,The game against Partizan was a big one for us mentally and really helped push us in the right direction. Especially with getting some guys back healthy and back into the rotation, that was important for our group.

    That win against Partizan definitely gave us a confidence boost. It also helped us in the EuroLeague, just in terms of being able to pick up another win. And of course, it’s always good to beat a team with as much history and tradition as they have and have that experience under our belt moving forward.

    The biggest key to securing that win was our energy. We went out there ready to compete, ready to fight, and with a winning mentality. We were focused on finishing the game strong. We’ve had a few games this season where things were close at the end and we let them slip away, but this time we really fought and stayed together.

    I think that showed that we’re growing, maturing, and getting better as a team” – Zac Seljaas said.

    Wurzburg

    Over the past two years, Zac Seljaas has grown into a Wurzburg legend.

    He was the true leader of the German team and a player especially beloved by the fans.

    Last season in the Basketball Champions League, he averaged 17.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game — the clearest indicator of his dominance.

    ,,Wurzburg was a really awesome place for me in my career, for my family, and for basketball. It definitely wasn’t a big-budget situation, but it was a place that was about much more than money. It wasn’t just about signing a contract — it was about being part of a basketball community.

    Every single day, it was about playing for the love of the game and for the love of the city. At that time, it was about more than basketball. It was about family, building relationships, and taking the next step in my career.

    Wurzburg helped me achieve a lot of the goals I had and allowed me to have success while I was there. On top of that, being part of an organization and a fan base that was so loyal and so positive, and that really welcomed our family, meant a lot. It was truly fun to be part of that environment.

    It was a very important stepping stone for me — it helped me understand what I was looking for in my career. Looking back now, I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity I had there. Like I said, it was more than just basketball. It was about finding the love of the game and understanding what it takes to achieve your goals, especially in basketball.”

    BYU & Elijah Bryant

    From 2015 to 2020, Zac Seljaas played college basketball at BYU.

    Interestingly, from 2016 to 2018, his teammate at BYU was Elijah Bryant.

    Speaking about his experience at BYU and his relationship with the Hapoel Tel Aviv star, Seljaas said:

    ,,I had kind of an up-and-down career at BYU during college. It was more of a learning experience and a grind for me. Once I was able to go overseas, it felt like a new start — a chance to reinvent myself and become the player I really wanted to be.

    I loved BYU, and I’ll always look back on my time there with great memories. But going overseas was my opportunity to step into something different, something that fit my style of play and the kind of game I wanted to play. It was a good period for me. I learned a lot, especially by playing alongside great players.

    Playing with Elijah Bryant, in particular, was really special. He’s a great player, a great teammate, and a great friend. We’re still in touch, we still talk, and we still see each other during the summers. Our families still see each other back in Utah. There’s a real brotherhood at BYU — once you’re an alumnus, you stay connected and help each other.

    Elijah helped me a lot in taking the next steps in my European career. He was an important voice when it came to what I should be working on and how to approach things. I truly believe he played a part in my journey to the EuroLeague, and I’m grateful to him for helping me understand what it takes to get here and how the process really works.”

    His overseas career…

    Seljaas began his professional career in Slovakia, specifically with BC Prievidza. A year later, he signed a contract with the Georgian team Vera Tbilisi.

    Zac reflected on his first impressions after making his initial steps in European basketball.

    ,,My time in Slovakia was very short, so there aren’t many memories from that period. It happened during COVID, which made everything especially difficult, and overall it was a very quick experience.

    Georgia, on the other hand, was something completely different and very unique. It’s a unique country with a unique style, and that was really my first big adjustment to European basketball. It turned out to be a great experience for me. I learned a lot and made incredible friends there, people I still stay in touch with today.

    I’m very grateful for the opportunity to go there, because it helped me a lot. It was also a lot of fun — being able to immerse myself in the culture, learn something new, and experience a different way of life. It was really special for both me and my wife.

    Looking back, Georgia was a very pivotal point at the beginning of my career. That was the moment when we had to ask ourselves whether continuing to play basketball was truly worth it, or if it was going to be a short, one-and-done experience. Going there and fully committing changed my perspective. It taught me how to adapt to different cultures and systems, and how to truly embrace the experience of being away from home.

    Because of that, Georgia will always have a special place for me. I really love that country and the people who made it feel like such a meaningful and memorable time in my life.”

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    About his family

    Zac Seljaas is widely known as an ideal example of a family man. His wife and children have always been his top priority, which has earned him great respect across the basketball community.

    ,,I feel honored to be seen as a family man, because family means everything to me. I love my wife — she’s my biggest supporter and a real superhero. She’s always by my side, adapting to new cultures, new cities, and everything that comes with this life, all while raising our kids.

    My three boys are amazing. I’m constantly impressed by how strong and brave they are — moving to new countries, learning new languages, making new friends. They handle it all with so much courage. My wife is a huge example for them, helping them through every step, and they’ve all been incredibly important to me.

    Of course, my family here and my family back home have supported me and helped me reach this point in my career, and I’m grateful to them every single day. Family is such a big part of my life because it makes everywhere feel like home. No matter the country, the city, or the team — when we’re together, it’s always home.

    Having my family with me allows me to focus on basketball one hundred percent. I know they’re okay, in a good place, and I can always be with them after practice or after games. That support means everything to me. They play a huge role in my ability to be here, to be part of this team, and to be successful in my career. I love them, and I’m truly grateful for everything they do for me.”

    Faith

    Seljaas spent his entire college career at BYU, appearing in 134 games over four seasons. In 2016, however, he put basketball on hold to serve a mission for the LDS Church in Iowa — a defining experience that would later influence both his career path and personal growth.

    ,,During my college career, I took time away to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it was an incredible experience. It played a huge role in my life — helping me grow up, learn how to be on my own, and live with very limited communication back home.

    I was able to give one hundred percent of my time and effort to Jesus Christ, to teach others about Him, and to serve people every day. That experience meant so much to me and was a tremendous blessing in my life.

    I truly believe it also helped my basketball career. Taking that break allowed me to focus on something outside of myself and develop the mindset of serving others. That perspective was very important for me and something I still carry with me today.

    I met so many amazing people during my mission, and I think that experience prepared me for my career now — going to new places, living in unfamiliar environments, and learning how to adapt to different cultures and systems. My mission helped me understand how to do that and played a big role in getting me to where I am today.

    Even now, being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, I’m grateful to be part of a worldwide faith. Wherever we go, I’m able to have a church family. I also love seeing missionaries all over the world and being able to support them, help them, and give them some of the love they might miss from home.

    I have so much respect and gratitude for the missionaries and the sacrifices they make — being away from their families and focusing fully on serving others and sharing the name of Jesus Christ.”

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    The secret behind his hairstyle and personal style

    Zac Seljaas is widely known across Europe for his distinctive look. His mustache and hairstyle regularly catch the attention of basketball fans, and in an interview with Basketball Sphere, he revealed the story behind his personal style.

    ,,Yeah, my hairstyle is definitely something that a lot of people ask me about. It’s definitely not the most beautiful look, but it is a unique look, and I understand that. I love it, and I think it represents who I am as a person.

    I’m a very unique person. I don’t like being like everyone else. I like being a little bit different, and that’s really why the hairstyle is the way it is. I like being myself, being noticed, and standing out a bit.

    I’ve had different hairstyles and different combinations, and this one is just very unique and very different. When I first started wearing it, I got a lot of people hating on it — people telling me I had to cut my hair, that I looked terrible, that my mustache was bad, and things like that. And honestly, when people said those things, it just made me want to keep it even more.

    So the more people don’t like my hair or tell me I need to cut it or see a new barber, the more it makes me want to keep my mullet and my mustache. The people who don’t like it are really the ones keeping me in the same style.

    We’ll see what the future holds — whether I keep this look or not. We’ll see what happens, and if my wife allows it.”

    An important piece of advice

    At the end of the interview, we asked Zac Seljaas what advice he would give to his younger self if he had the chance.

    ,,If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self, it would definitely be to do hard things. Don’t be scared of doing something that’s difficult or something that might feel scary, because in the long run it’s going to help you. It will only make you tougher and stronger. Taking chances and trying to be the best version of yourself is what really pushes you forward.

    Another important thing is to truly embrace the people around you — whether that’s your family or people you’ve just met. Learn about other people, different cultures, and different lifestyles, because everyone is different. The more we learn about others, the more we understand them and connect with each other.

    As a basketball player, and as a human being, all of that really matters. It helps us think beyond ourselves and see a bigger picture. It allows us to move forward without fear, to be ourselves, to try new things, meet new people, and broaden our lives. Basketball only lasts for a short time, and in the bigger picture, what matters is being able to look back and know that we gave everything we had and did the best we possibly could.”

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