November 21, 2020 – The latest on Croats in the NBA, as the Memphis Grizzlies bring in Mario Hezonja from the Portland Trail Blazers.
Index.hr reports that Mario Hezonja is the new player of the Memphis Grizzlies, ESPN journalist Adrian Wojnarovski announced on Friday. Hezonja was traded to Memphis for Enes Kanter who is returning to Portland after two years.
Portland is acquiring Boston's Enes Kanter in a three-way deal with Memphis, sources tell ESPN. Memphis gets Mario Hezonjia and 30th pick (Desmond Bane) from draft night deal as part of trade too. Celtics get a future Memphis draft consideration.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 20, 2020
It will be Hezonja’s sixth season in the NBA league next season after being selected as the fifth pick in the 2015 draft. He spent the first three in Orlando, one in New York, and last year in Portland. Next up is Memphis.
Last season, Hezonja played in 53 games, four of which he started in the top five thanks to a series of injuries that crippled the Blazers. He averaged 4.8 points, 3.5 rebounds with a shots in play percentage of 42% and a 31% success rate for three points in 16.4 minutes on the court.
Thank you, @mariohezonja ❤️ pic.twitter.com/6QLjySaGIB
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) November 21, 2020
A few weeks ago, Hezonja angered many Croats when he took to his social media to say that he does not play for the Croatia national team because he is tired and doesn’t enjoy it. Croatia coach Veljko Mršić then said that he would not call him up again, but not because of that statement, but because he did not answer his calls. Hezonja then trolled HKS in the story about the esport national team, when the Federation said that Hezonja could not play for it because he did not register on time. Hezonja replied: “How come I didn’t? I called, but you didn’t answer.”
Of the other Croatian players, Bojan Bogdanović has a contract with the Utah Jazz, Ivica Zubac with the LA Clippers, and Luka Šamanić with the San Antonio Spurs. Darijo Šarić’s contract with the Phoenix Suns has expired and he is now a limited free agent, which means that he can negotiate with other clubs, but the Suns can still match the offer and to keep him. According to the latest information from America, the Suns would gladly keep him for a reasonable price.
Ante Žižić and Dragan Bender returned to the Euroleague and play for Maccabi. Bender signed a three-month contract so he could return to the NBA in the event of a good offer, but so far he has not been satisfied in Israel either.
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