“I will not return to the NBA. I didn’t get the respect I deserved. »

After 335 NBA games at the Magic, Knicks and Blazers, Mario Hezonja left the big league in February 2021. He is playing this season in Russia at UNICS Kazan and is having an excellent season there with 16.3 points at 45.9%, 6.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals, in all competitions. We think that NBA franchises must have an eye on him and that he could return to the big league, but on this subject, here is what he told Russian media Tatar-inform

“No,” said Mario Hezonja on a possible return to the NBA. “There are a lot of things I didn’t like there. »

Drafted in 5th position by the Magic, we expected a lot from him, but he never confirmed his talent and he ended up at the Blazers where he no longer played, finally transferred to the Grizzlies, then cut. He did not live well his adventure across the Atlantic.

“I will not return to the NBA. I didn’t get the respect I deserved. Also, in my opinion, basketball in the NBA is more of a show than a game.” Mario Hezonja

However, he explained that he would continue to prepare for it there.

« It’s a completely different level, it’s something incredible, » Hezonja explained. “That’s why every summer I go back to America and prepare for the season there, with great players. It’s a totally different level. »