Mario Hezonja may be on the verge of making a return to the NBA. The Croatian forward currently plays for Real Madrid in Spain but has an NBA opt-out clause in his contract, and multiple NBA franchises are reportedly showing interest in bringing him back to the league.
Originally selected by the Orlando Magic as the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Hezonja spent five seasons in the NBA. He played his first three years with the Magic before continuing his career with short stints at the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers.
Following his time in the NBA, Hezonja took his talents overseas. He played for Panathinaikos in the Greek League, then moved on to UNICS Kazan in Russia, and for the past three seasons, he has been a key contributor for Real Madrid.
This past season, the 30-year-old swingman delivered solid performances, averaging 14.3 points and 5.2 rebounds over 71 games in all competitions.
In addition to his club performance, Hezonja showcased his scoring prowess and all-around ability while representing Croatia in the EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers. He posted impressive numbers, averaging 30.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.
Despite his standout play, Croatia suffered a major setback by failing to qualify for EuroBasket – a first in the history of the national team.
As Hezonja weighs his options this offseason, a potential NBA comeback seems to be on the table, especially given his recent form and the interest he’s garnering from teams in the United States.
Mario Hezonja Drawing Interest From NBA Teams https://t.co/PVVfADE0yQ
— RealGM (@RealGM) May 25, 2025
