Hezonja returns to NBA: signs with Cleveland Cavaliers
Croatian national team player agrees to one-year, $2.8 million deal with Cleveland Cavaliers after six seasons in Europe.
Croatian national team player agrees to one-year, $2.8 million deal with Cleveland Cavaliers after six seasons in Europe.
Mario Hezonja has officially returned to the NBA. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the 31-year-old from Dubrovnik has agreed to a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The news was confirmed by Hezonja's agent, Michael Tellem.
Hezonja returns to the world's strongest basketball league after a six-year absence. He last played an NBA game in the 2019/20 season before continuing his career in Europe. There, he played for Panathinaikos, Russia's UNICS Kazan, and Real Madrid.
It was with the Spanish powerhouse that he built his reputation as one of Europe's top basketball players. Last season, he averaged 13.3 points, four rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in the EuroLeague, and was a key player for Real Madrid on their way to the EuroLeague finals. This period of European growth led to renewed interest from NBA teams.
According to Tportal, Cleveland was among the main candidates in recent days to bring in the Croatian national team player, with the Golden State Warriors also showing interest. After the situation regarding LeBron James was resolved, the Cavaliers accelerated negotiations and secured Hezonja's signature.
Cleveland reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season and, according to early predictions, again has high ambitions in the championship race. In this context, Hezonja should get an opportunity to prove that after years in European leagues, he can be an important part of a playoff-contending team.
Hezonja first entered the NBA in 2015 as the fifth pick in that draft, selected by the Orlando Magic. During his first stint in the league, he also played for the New York Knicks and the Portland Trail Blazers. Overall, he appeared in 335 games, averaging 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
After failing to secure a stable role in NBA rotations, the Croatian player decided to continue his career in Europe, where through seasons with Panathinaikos, UNICS, and finally Real Madrid, he built a reputation as a reliable forward capable of contributing on both ends of the floor. These European experiences now open the door for a second chance in the world's top league.
For Hezonja, returning to the NBA represents a chance to show, after six years of European development, whether those skills can translate back to the most competitive basketball environment in the world. The Cleveland Cavaliers, a team building ambitious plans for the upcoming season, see him as a player who could contribute to the roster's depth.
It remains to be seen what role Hezonja will have in the Cavaliers' rotation and whether he can live up to the expectations surrounding his return. Details regarding the official signing, such as the date of the physical exam and press conference, have not yet been released.
