Kári Jónsson

This is an Icelandic name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Kári.

Kári Jónsson (born August 27, 1997) is an Icelandic basketball player who plays for Valur in the Úrvalsdeild karla. He was named to the Úrvalsdeild Domestic All-First team in 2016 when he helped Haukar to the Úrvalsdeild finals where they lost to KR.^[1] In 2022, he won his first Icelandic championship and was named the Úrvalsdeild Playoffs MVP. In 2023, he won the Icelandic Cup for the first time and was named the Cup Final MVP.

Kári Jónsson

Kári in a 2015 game against Keflavík
Valur
Position	Point guard
League	Úrvalsdeild karla
Personal information
Born	(1997-08-27) August 27, 1997 (age 26) Reykjavik, Iceland
Nationality	Icelandic
Listed height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Listed weight	77 kg (170 lb)
Career information
College	Drexel (2016–2017)
Playing career	2013–present
Career history
2013–2016	Haukar
2017–2018	Haukar
2018–2019	Barça Lassa B
2019–2020	Haukar
2020–2021	Bàsquet Girona
2021–present	Valur
Career highlights and awards
Úrvalsdeild Domestic MVP (2023) Úrvalsdeild Playoffs MVP (2022) Icelandic Cup Finals MVP (2023) 3× Úrvalsdeild Domestic All-First team (2016, 2018, 2023) Úrvalsdeild Young Player of the Year (2016) Icelandic League champion (2022) Icelandic Cup (2023) Icelandic Super Cup (2022)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Iceland Games of the Small States of Europe 2017 San Marino Team

Playing career

First years

Kári came up from the junior ranks of Haukar and played his first games with the senior team in the 2013–2014 season, averaging 7.6 points in 25 regular season and playoffs games. The next season he moved to the starting lineup and averaged 15.0 points in 21 regular-season games. He averaged 13.0 points in 9 playoffs games, helping Haukar to the semi-finals where they lost to Tindastóll. He had his breakout season in 2015–2016 and was named the best player of the second half of the season before the playoffs.^[2] He helped Haukar advance to the Úrvalsdeild finals but was injured in the first game and missed the rest of the series which Haukar eventually lost 1–3.^[3] After the season he was named the Úrvalsdeild Young Player of the Year and to the Úrvalsdeild Domestic All-First team.^[4]

College

Kári joined Drexel University in 2016.^[5][6] On 26 December, he was named CAA Rookie of the week after scoring 17 points, including 5 three-pointers, and handing out 8 assists in a game against Quinnipiac University.^[7] For the season he averaged 10.1 points and 2.0 assists, starting 21 of 28 games. He led the CAA by making 43.6% of his three-point shots.^[8]

He left Drexel in October 2017 prior to the start of the 2017–2018 college season, due to personal reasons.^[9][10][11]

Return to Iceland

On October 13, 2017, Kári signed with his former team, Haukar, for the rest of the 2017–18 season.^[12][13][14] On February 20, Kári broke his right thumb on a practice with the Icelandic national team, and was expected to miss up to 4 weeks, including the national team games and the final three games of the regular season.^[15] On March 8, Haukar defeated Valur in the last game of the regular season and finished with the best record in the league, winning the Division championship and a home court advantage through the playoffs.^[16] For the regular season, he averaged 19.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

In the first round of the playoffs, Haukar faced Keflavík. During game two of the series on 20 March 2018, Kári scored 6 of his 27 points in the last 3.4 seconds in game, giving Haukar an 82–85 victory. After being fouled in the act of shooting with 3.4 seconds remaining, he made all three free throws and tied the game at 82–82. After a timeout by Keflavík, Haukar stole the inbound pass, allowing Kári to heave up a cross-court shot from his own free throw line that went in, winning the game for Haukar.^[17][18] After losing game the next to game, Haukar won the series with a 72–66 victory in game five. In the semi-finals, Haukar lost to eventual champions KR in four games. For the playoffs, Kári averaged 20.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. Following the season, Kári was named to the Úrvalsdeild Karla Domestic All-First Team.^[19]

Barça Lassa B

On August 3, 2018, Kári signed a one-year deal with Barça Lassa B of the LEB Oro.^[20][21] On 15 November it was reported that he would miss three months due to an Achilles tendon injury.^[22] Surgery was performed on both his ankles to remove a portion of his heelbones, to alleviate the pain it was causing to his Achilles tendons.^[23] Due to the injuries he was forced to miss the rest of the season.^[24]

Helsinki Seagulls

In August 2019, Kári signed with Helsinki Seagulls of the Finnish Korisliiga.^[25] On 6 September, the Seagulls terminated their contract with Kári, before the start of the season, as he was not yet fully recovered from his injuries.^[26]

Haukar 2019–2020

On 10 September 2019, Kári signed back with his hometown team of Haukar.^[27] For the season, he averaged 17.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists before the last game and the playoffs were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Iceland. After contemplating overseas opportunities, he resigned with Haukar on 15 September 2020.^[28] He appeared in one game for Haukar, scoring 27 points, before the season was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic in Iceland.

Bàsquet Girona 2020–2021

In December 2020, Haukar agreed to release Kári from his contract so he could sign with LEB Oro club Bàsquet Girona.^[29] In 19 games, he averaged 7.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 19.2 minutes per game.

Valur 2021–present

In August 2021, Kári returned to the Úrvalsdeild and signed with Reykjavík club Valur.^[30] In April 2022, he helped Valur advance to the Úrvalsdeild finals for the first time in 30 years.^[31] On 18 May 2022, he won his first Icelandic championship and was named the Úrvalsdeild Playoffs MVP after Valur defeated Tindastóll in the finals.

On 14 January 2023, he won the Icelandic Cup and was named the Cup Finals MVP after turning in 22 points and 7 assists in Valur's win against Stjarnan.^[32] He led Valur to a Finals rematch against Tindastóll, but this time Tindastóll came out on top, winning the series 3–2. Following the season he was named the Úrvalsdeild Domestic Player of the Year and to the Úrvalsdeild Domestic All-First team.^[33]

In December 2023, Valur announced that Kári would miss several months of playing time due to an injury that required surgery.^[34]

Icelandic national team

Kári played 5 games for the Icelandic national team at the 2017 Games of the Small States of Europe, helping the team win the bronze.^[35]

In 2015, Kári was named the MVP of the U-18 Nordic Championship after averaging 17.8 points and 6.0, and leading Iceland to a second-place finish.^[36][37][38]

In 2016, Kári led Iceland's U-20 team to silver on the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship Division B and was named to the All-Tournament Team.^[39][40] He played for the U-20 team at the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, helping them advance from the group stage to the Second Round of 16. There he scored 15 points in Iceland's 39–73 win against Sweden.^[41] In the Round of 8, Iceland lost to Serbia and eventually finished 8th in the tournament.

Personal life

Kári is the son of Jón Arnar Ingvarsson, a former professional player and coach, who played 102 games for the Icelandic national basketball team. His nephew, Pétur Ingvarsson, played 26 games for the national team while his grandfather, Ingvar Jónsson, both played for and coached Haukar.^[35][42]

Awards and accomplishments

Titles

• Icelandic champion: 2022
• Icelandic Cup: 2023
• Icelandic Super Cup :2022

Individual awards

• Úrvalsdeild Domestic Player of the Year : 2023
• Úrvalsdeild Playoffs MVP: 2022
• Úrvalsdeild Domestic All-First team (3): 2016, 2018, 2023
• Icelandic Cup Finals MVP: 2023
• Úrvalsdeild Young Player of the Year: 2016
• FIBA Europe U-20 Championship Division B All-Tournament Team : 2016
• U-18 Nordic Championship's MVP: 2015

References

1. Stefán Árni Pálsson (28 April 2016). "Umfjöllun, viðtöl og myndir: Haukar - KR 70-84 - KR Íslandsmeistari þriðja árið í röð". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 October 2017.
2. "Kári Jónsson valinn besti leikmaðurinn". Stöð 2 (in Icelandic). 14 March 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
3. "Kári hugsanlega brotinn". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 19 April 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
4. Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson (6 May 2016). "Helena og Haukur Helgi valin bestu leikmenn tímabilsins". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 October 2017.
5. "Philadelphia næst hjá Kára". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 27 May 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
6. Kern, Mike (11 January 2017). "Kern: Iceland's Jonsson a hot talent at Drexel". philly.com. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
7. "Kari Jonsson Named CAA Rookie of the Week (Drexel Dragons)". drexeldragons.com. 26 December 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
8. "Kari Jonsson - 2016-17". drexeldragons.com. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
9. "Jonsson departs Drexel". Drexel Dragons. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
10. Henry Birgir Gunnarsson (11 October 2017). "Ekki sjálfgefið að Kári fari aftur í Hauka". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 October 2017.
11. Haukur Harðarson (13 October 2017). "Kári: "Mér var bara hætt að líða vel þarna"". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 October 2017.
12. Henry Birgir Gunnarsson (13 October 2017). "Kári búinn að semja við Hauka". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 October 2017.
13. "Kári heldur aftur á heimaslóðir". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 13 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
14. "Kári Jónsson er kominn heim í Hauka". Stöð 2 (in Icelandic). 13 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
15. Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson (22 February 2018). "Kári missir ekki bara af landsleikjunum heldur næstu leikjum Hauka líka". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 22 February 2018.
16. Ástrós Ýr Eggertsdóttir (10 March 2018). "Kári bestur eftir áramót: "Staðan er geðveik akkúrat núna"". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 10 March 2018.
17. Kristján Jónsson (20 March 2018). "Ævintýraleg sigurkarfa Kára". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 20 March 2018.
18. Anton Ingi Leifsson (20 March 2018). "Sjáðu ótrúlega flautukörfu Kára: Svali óskaði eftir stuðningsfulltrúa". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 21 March 2018.
19. Henry Birgir Gunnarsson (4 May 2018). "Kristófer og Helena valin leikmenn ársins". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 5 May 2018.
20. "Kári Jónsson y Tyler Rawson refuerzan al Barça Lassa B | FC Barcelona". FC Barcelona (in European Spanish). 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
21. Arnar Geir Halldórsson (3 August 2018). "Kári búinn að semja við Barcelona". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 3 August 2018.
22. Anton Ingi Leifsson (16 November 2018). "Kári frá í þrjá mánuði vegna meiðsla". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 17 November 2018.
23. Kristján Jónsson (29 January 2019). "Katalónar hlúa að Kára". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 29 January 2019.
24. Henry Birgir Gunnarsson (4 July 2019). "Kári samningslaus og framtíðin óráðin". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 July 2019.
25. Davíð Eldur (15 August 2019). "Kári Jónsson til Helsinki Seagulls". Karfan.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 16 August 2019.
26. Ólafur Þór Jónsson (9 September 2019). "Samningi Kára í Finnlandi rift – Á leið í Dominos deildina?". Karfan.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 9 September 2019.
27. Ólafur Þór Jónsson (10 September 2019). "Kári á leið í Hauka – Kynntur í hádeginu". Karfan.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 10 September 2019.
28. Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson (15 September 2020). "Kári áfram hjá Haukum: "Þessar fréttir hljóta að gleðja mörg Haukahjörtu"". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 15 September 2020.
29. Davíð Eldur (4 December 2020). "Kári Jónsson til Girona á Spáni". Karfan.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 December 2020.
30. Hjörtur Leó Guðjónsson (28 August 2021). "Kári Jónsson gengur til liðs við Valsmenn". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 August 2021.
31. Gunnar Egill Daníelsson (30 April 2022). "Með fullt af mönnum sem hafa gert þetta áður". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic).
32. Siggeir Ævarsson (14 January 2023). "Leik lokið: Stjarnan - Valur 66-71 - Valsmenn bikarmeistarar eftir spennutrylli". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 14 January 2023.
33. Gunnar Egill Daníelsson (19 May 2023). "Næ ekki að meta verðlaunin nógu mikils strax". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 19 May 2023.
34. Kolbeinn Tumi Daðason (10 December 2023). "Valsmenn án Kára næstu mánuðina". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 11 December 2023.
35. "KKÍ | A landslið". kki.is. Retrieved 2017-09-25.
36. Anton Ingi Leifsson (17 May 2015). "Kári valinn besti leikmaðurinn á Norðurlandamótinu". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 October 2017.
37. "Kári Jónsson - Nordic Championship Men U18". basket.se. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
38. "Silfrið í höfn hjá U18 strákunum". Karfan.is (in Icelandic). 17 May 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
39. Haukur Harðarson (26 July 2016). "Kári: "Stórt fyrir íslenskan körfubolta"". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 October 2017.
40. Tómas Þór Þórðarson (27 July 2016). "Bestu vinir urðu silfurvinir". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 October 2017.
41. "Round of 16: Sweden - Iceland: Boxscore". fiba.basketball. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
42. Tómas Þór Þórðarson (27 October 2017). "25 ár á milli mynda: Stoltur körfuboltapabbi orðinn stoltur körfuboltaafi". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 October 2017.

External links

• Profile at realgm.com
• College Bio at drexeldragons.com
• Icelandic statistics at Icelandic Basketball Association
• Statistics at Proballers.com