By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Since his NBA rights were acquired by the Sacramento Kings, Sasha Vezenkov potentially moving to the NBA has gotten closer to becoming a reality. The Olympiacos forward, currently training at the Bulgaria camp ahead of a couple of key games of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, added on the topic Wednesday.
“I’m excited that my draft rights are in a club that really wanted to have them. I know the Kings scouted and followed me during the season. Not planning to play in Summer League. We will talk soon. Just glad that a team that knows me, has my rights,” he mentioned, per Bgbasket editor-in-chief Maria Mitsova, “I knew that this might happen (trade) but didn’t know how and when. I knew Kings’ scouts were at Olympiacos games. Everything is very new to me, we will see and know more later in the summer.”
Vezenkov, 26, was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team this season. Producing 13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.2 blocks per contest, he was among the main contributors as Olympiacos reached the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four for the first time in five years. At the domestic level, the Reds were champions in Greece’s Stoiximan Basket League and also lifted the Greek Cup trophy.
Also back in 2017, the Brooklyn Nets had selected him with the 57th overall pick of the NBA draft. In 2021, his rights moved to the Cleveland Cavaliers and last week shifted to the Kings.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net