Sasha Vezenkov, the former EuroLeague MVP, has opened up about his brief yet impactful NBA experience. Despite his return to Europe with Olympiacos after a short stint with the Sacramento Kings and a trade to the Toronto Raptors, the Bulgarian forward doesn’t regret his decision to try the NBA.
In the summer of 2023, Vezenkov made the bold move from the EuroLeague to the NBA, signing with the Kings. During his first season, he appeared in 42 games, averaging 5.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 12.2 minutes per game. However, the transition was not as seamless as he expected.
Reflecting on his NBA journey, Vezenkov admitted that adjusting to the league was difficult, particularly due to the league’s treatment of him as a rookie despite his age and EuroLeague accolades.
“What bothered me about the NBA is that they’d say, ‘You have time; you’re a rookie.’ But at the same time, I was 28 or 29 and felt like I didn’t have time,” Vezenkov explained on the Amerikanos24 podcast, via HoopsHype.
He further elaborated on his frustrations with the NBA’s perception of international players, especially those coming from EuroLeague.
“Everything starts from the beginning. They don’t care who you are, what you’ve done, or where you’ve played. You’re a rookie, even at 29, and you start from scratch,” Vezenkov said. “They don’t know the EuroLeague. It’s not that they don’t respect it—they just don’t know it. You’re just another guy until you prove otherwise.”
Despite the challenges, Vezenkov praised the NBA’s work ethic, particularly after seeing firsthand how players prepare and recover throughout a grueling 82-game season.
“In Europe, we might say, ‘Okay, I’m tired; I’ll take it easy,’” he said. “But in the NBA, they are doing it every day. After playing 35 minutes, they still go to the gym and work on their game.”
He also highlighted the stark difference between the NBA’s talent level and the perception of it from afar. “The talent is incredible. I was one of the guys who was saying, ‘They don’t play defense,’ but that’s totally wrong. They’re the best players in the world, 100%,” Vezenkov stated.
The 29-year-old also acknowledged the relentless schedule of the NBA, where players face superstar opponents every night. “Every night, you have to guard guys like Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, De’Aaron Fox, or Jimmy Butler—superstars every single night,” he said.
Although Vezenkov has returned to Olympiacos, his brief NBA experience has given him valuable insights. “I’m happy because, like, I did it. I owe it to myself to try against the best,” he said. “The schedule and the whole environment are so tough. It’s really tough, but I’m happy I did it.”
Vezenkov also shared positive memories from his time in Sacramento, calling the city “just for basketball” and appreciating the support he received, even though there were difficult moments. When asked if he would do it all over again, Vezenkov answered with certainty: “100%, I’d still do it.”
