Hjálmar Stefánsson (born 5 January 1996) is an Icelandic basketball player for Valur of the Úrvalsdeild karla and a member of the Icelandic national basketball team. In 2022, he won his first Icelandic championship. In 2023, he was named the Úrvalsdeild Defensive Player of the Year.

Hjálmar Stefánsson
Valur
PositionForward
LeagueÚrvalsdeild karla
Personal information
Born (1996-01-05) 5 January 1996 (age 28)
Iceland
NationalityIcelandic
Listed height200 cm (6 ft 7 in)
Career information
Playing career2013–present
Career history
2013–2020Haukar
2020–2021CB Carbajosa
2021–presentValur
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Iceland
Games of the Small States of Europe
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Montenegro Team

Career

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Hjálmar came up through the junior ranks of Haukar and started his senior team career during the 2013–14 season. In 2018–19, he averaged a career highs of 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. In August 2020, Hjálmar signed with Liga EBA club Aquimisa Carbajosa[1] where he met fellow Icelander Tómas Þórður Hilmarsson.[2][3] In February 2021, it was reported that Hjálmar would leave Carbajosa and return to Iceland to join Valur,[4] much to the displeasure of Haukar who threatened legal action as they believed that he was still under contract obligations to not to play for any other team in Iceland except them until after the season.[5] On 27 February, the Icelandic Basketball Association confirmed his transfer from Carbajosa to Valur.[6] On 5 March it was reported that Haukar would not pursue a legal case in the matter.[7]

In 2022, he won the Icelandic championship with Valur.

On 2 October 2022, he won the Icelandic Super Cup with Valur.[8] On 14 January 2023, he won the Icelandic Cup after Valur defeated Stjarnan in the Cup final.

In 2023, he was named the Úrvalsdeild Defensive Player of the Year.[9]

On 24 September 2023, he won his second straight Icelandic Super Cup after Valur defeated Tindastóll 80–72.[10]

National team career

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Hjálmar debuted for the Icelandic national team in June 2018.[11] He was a member of the team that won silver at the 2019 Games of the Small States of Europe.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Hjálmar Stefánsson, el jugador '12+1' que llega para reforzar el exterior del Aquimisa Carbajosa". La Gaceta de Salamanca (in Spanish). 22 August 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Íslenskir liðsfélagar á Spáni". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 22 August 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Hjálmar Stefánsson cerrará la plantilla de jugadores del Aquimisa Carbajosa para su debut en LEB Plata". feb.es (in Spanish). 22 August 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  4. ^ Sindri Sverrisson (11 February 2021). "Hjálmar á heimleið og í viðræðum við Val". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  5. ^ Sindri Sverrisson (17 February 2021). "Telja Hjálmar samningsbundinn og ætla að kæra ef þess þarf". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  6. ^ Davíð Eldur (27 February 2021). "Hjálmar Stefánsson fær félagaskiptin til Vals staðfest". Karfan.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  7. ^ Sindri Sverrisson (5 March 2021). "Haukar "lúffa" í máli Hjálmars". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  8. ^ Árni Jóhannsson (2 October 2022). "Umfjöllun og viðtöl: Valur - Stjarnan 80-77 - Valur Meistarar meistaranna eftir spennuleik". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Kári og Eva bestu leikmenn tímabilsins". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  10. ^ Arnar Skúli Atlason (24 September 2023). "Leik lokið: Tindastóll - Valur 72-80 - Valsmenn meistarar meistaranna eftir sigur á Króknum". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  11. ^ Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson (26 June 2018). "Hlynur er níu árum eldri en sjá þriðji elsti í landsliðinu". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  12. ^ Valur Páll Eiríksson (22 May 2019). "Tveir nýliðar í landsliðshópnum". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 February 2021.
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