March 17, 2019. A date that is more than six years ago, and one that is also the biggest highlight from Mario Hezonja’s NBA career. On the New York Knicks at the time, his team held a one-point lead late on that day in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Hezonja would block LeBron James’ 12-foot game-winning attempt with two seconds left to secure the victory for New York.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many other moments that NBA fans remember from the Croatian who never made much of a mark in his tenure. Out of the league since 2020, a recent report states that Mario Hezonja could look to make a return to the NBA next season.
Lottery Draft Bust Potentially To Return To NBA Next Season
Currently Rostered With Real Madrid
Now 30 years old, Hezonja is currently rostered by Real Madrid. According to BasketNews, he could potentially move on next season, possibly even back to the NBA. While he is signed until 2029 with Real Madrid, his contract includes an NBA opt-out clause.
This year marked the third season that the 6-foot-7 forward has been with Real Madrid. The European powerhouse includes numerous other former NBA players including Facundo Campazzo, Gabriel Deck, Bruno Fernando, Usman Garuba, Serge Ibaka, Dzanan Musa, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, and Edy Tavares.
In 32 EuroLeague games this season, Hezonja posted averages of 14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 26.9 minutes. He shot 45.0% from the field, 31.5% from beyond the arc, and 83.8% from the foul line. In his first year with the team, Real Madrid were EuroLeague champions.
NBA
If Hezonja were to return to the NBA, he would be looking to shed the label of draft bust. The Orlando Magic took him with the fifth overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft. Hejonza had previously played for Barcelona, joining them at the age of 17. He lasted just five years in the NBA before heading overseas to continue playing professionally.
Hezonja played his first three seasons for Orlando, who did not pick up his fourth-year option. His next season was spent with the Knicks, and his final one was with the Portland Trail Blazers. Altogether, he has played in 330 regular season games (69 starts) in his NBA career. Hezonja has career averages of 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. Expected to be a marksman when drafted, he owns just a career three-point accuracy of 31.9% in the NBA.
Out of the NBA for five years now, Hezonja would look to go a similar route as Dante Exum. Also selected fifth overall in 2014, Exum received the draft bust label as well. After playing overseas, he returned to the league (albeit just a two-year absence). The 29-year-old played a large role for the Dallas Mavericks en route to an NBA Finals appearance in 2024.
Photo credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
