Filip Petrusev barely saw any game action during his first NBA experience, but he believes things will be different if he gets another opportunity. The 25-year-old center talked about coming back to the league in an interview with Serbian media outlet Sportski Zurnal, according to Eurohoops.
“I would like to return to the NBA as soon as possible,” Petrusev said. “It is always better, for everyone and for me in particular, to go there early than to try to do it in my last years of career. I was not lucky in Philadelphia. As soon as I started playing, I was traded, and everything fell apart. Now I have regained my self-confidence, and I believe that I deserve a second chance!”
The Sixers selected Petrusev with the 50th pick in the 2021 draft, but he remained in Europe until the summer of 2023. He appeared in just one game with Philadelphia, playing only three minutes, before being included in the early-season trade that sent James Harden to the Clippers.
L.A. moved him on to Sacramento on the same day, and he made brief appearances in two games with the Kings before being waived about three weeks later.
Petrusev returned to Europe on a three-year contract with Olympiacos that still has one season remaining. He’s currently on loan to Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade, where he’s averaging 14.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
It sounds like he’ll be exploring another NBA opportunity this summer, as he said in the interview, “It is my great desire to return to the NBA and for this reason all the contracts I sign include an NBA out clause.”
I want to play in the NBA, too.
Back to the Sixers. Why not?
6ers need a reliable center who isn’t a baby, so come on back!