Martin Jelínek

Martin Jelínek was born on 16 April 1971 in Kutná Hora, in what was then Czechoslovakia. His brother Josef Jelínek, five years older, became the all time leading scorer in Czech basketball competitions. Josef later described himself as the pioneer of the family and said Martin followed in his footsteps, collecting success at youth level and growing tall enough that it was soon clear he could follow him. Martin was 196 cm tall.

Jelínek made his name in Brno, entering the top Czechoslovak league with Sokol I. Brno in 1990 to 1991, when the team finished fourth. He then played for SKP Pardubice from 1991 to 1993, scoring 1,539 points across his three seasons in the Czechoslovak league.

In the Czech league he played for Tonak Nový Jičín from 1993 to 1995, finishing runner up in 1994, and appeared in the league's All Star game in 1995. He moved to Sparta Praha for 1995 to 1996, then to BK Žďas Žďár nad Sázavou, and in 1998 to 1999 won the Czech championship with Mlékárna Kunín, the Nový Jičín club, playing in the same team as his brother. He finished his top flight career with ASK Chomutov in 1999 to 2000. In European club competitions he played in the Korać Cup for Nový Jičín and Sparta Praha and in the Cup Winners' Cup for Kunín, scoring 55 points in seven games.

For Czechoslovakia he played at the 1990 European junior championship in the Netherlands, scoring 84 points in seven games, and at the 1992 European under 22 championship in Athens, scoring 96 points in seven games. He won seven caps for the Czechoslovak senior team and one for the Czech Republic, in qualifying for the 1997 European championship.

His brother described him as a powerful, aggressive player, respected for his fighting spirit and his ability to guard the best opponents. A knee injury at the end of his second season in Nový Jičín meant he largely played out the rest of his career, and he retired before he was 30.

Martin and Josef Jelínek were close. They lived in the same building during their time in Nový Jičín and spent a great deal of time together, and after their playing careers they wore the same shirt again in a game for Czech veterans teams. Josef said he valued their shared league title enormously. Martin was the uncle of the Czech international basketball player David Jelínek.

Jelínek died after a serious illness in the week before 27 October 2026, aged 55. His brother Josef confirmed the death to the Brno daily Rovnost, which reported it on 27 October. The exact date and place of death were not published. Josef said their mother had suffered from the same illness, so Martin knew how it would progress and end, and that the day before he died Martin told him: "Look, brother, I can't go on. We will meet up above."

Jelínek is remembered as part of the Nový Jičín and Kunín sides that were among the strongest teams in Czech basketball in the 1990s, and as a Czech league champion and international who was valued for defence and toughness. Former teammates and fans shared their memories of him after his death was announced.