Former NBA forward Mario Hezonja has no interest in returning to the league, Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.net relays. Speaking to Russia’s Tatar-inform, Hezonja said, “I didn’t get the respect I deserved. Also, in my opinion, the NBA is more a show than the game itself.”
Hezonja, who is playing for UNICS Kazan this season, spent five seasons in the NBA, most recently on a 53-game stint with Portland in 2019/20.
We have more from the basketball world:
- Free agent guard Walt Lemon Jr. is signing a summer contract in the Canadian Elite Basketball League with the Ottawa BlackJacks, Hoops Rumors’ JD Shaw tweets. Lemon holds NBA experience with the Pelicans and Bulls. He played 42 games with Fort Wayne, the Pacers’ G League affiliate, this year.
- The Salt Lake City Summer League will be held on July 5-7, according to a Jazz press release. The Grizzlies, Thunder and Sixers will be the other participants along with the host Jazz.
- Tamika Tremaglio, the new executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, favors expansion, Andrew Cohen of SportTechie.com reports. “We do want more teams, I think it’s good for the business,’’ she said. “Ideally, we hope that there will be more teams popping up in the U.S.’’ In a Spotrac piece, Keith Smith outlines a few compelling reasons for expansion, including the amount of cities interested in having an NBA team, the deep talent pool, and the cash infusions from expansion fees.
Hezonja, when he was with Portland, was one of the worst NBA players I’ve ever seen, and I mean that in all seriousness. And I watched the tanking Blazers run out a G-League roster to finish this season!
Yeh he sure wasn’t part ofany ‘show’
Block on lebron at the buzzer and dunking on the Greek freak were good highlights
Hezonja stinks. Come on, u couldn’t shot(41%FG, 31%3PT). Just say it didn’t workout and move on.
Luckily, no one wants you back, Hezonja. It’s out of your hands entirely. One of those clowns you’re happy to see didn’t succeed in the league at the expense of more deserving players.
Here’s an ironic quote from before he was drafted into the league:
“Respect? No, I never had respect to anybody on a basketball court,” Hezonja told Sportando. “I heard about, ‘If they smell blood, you get eaten.’ I’m not like that. I don’t care. Whether it’s a veteran or a young player standing in front of me I always have the same goal. I want to run over everybody.”
So much for not caring.
I didn’t think Russian media was allowed to associate with the outside world currently. Hmm … learned something new today. Glad they are using their resources to uncover the travesties of …. Hezonja’s exodus.
Respect is earned not given out like participation trophies. If you think the league was disrespecting you, then you should have let your game demand that respect like your old teammate Dame did.
There’s a reason your playing overseas….
I like the idea of a moderate expansion (2 teams), but not that they would again expand within the US.
Move the Kings to Las Vegas
Reconsider if the Pelicans have long term viability in New Orleans, perhaps a move to Seattle is better.
Consider a second Canadian franchise (Quebec and/or Vancouver)
Accelerate the Mexico City team
I wish the NBA would invest in the Euroleague and make it a fully fledged NBA Europa. Would immediately be the strongest development path for non-star rookie scale players.
You overrate commissioner powers.
Oh I know Silver can’t do this. It would just be a better league.
Why would they want a team in Mexico City? That seems like a waste to me.
They already have a G-league team lined up. Mexico City is the largest city in North-America, with an ever wealthier population.