Mario Hezonja Returns to NBA, Signs with Cleveland Cavaliers

Croatian basketball player Mario Hezonja is set to return to the NBA, signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 31-year-old forward expressed his dissatisfaction with the circumstances of his departure from the league six years ago but conveyed his excitement for a new chapter with the Cavaliers. "I never liked the way I left the NBA, but the past five years were exactly what I wanted and needed. I am overjoyed to start a new chapter of my career with the Cavaliers, a team and organization I have always admired and deeply respected," Hezonja stated via social media. Hezonja played 330 games in the NBA from 2015 to 2020 for the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, and Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in 18 minutes of play. After his initial NBA stint, he returned to Europe, playing for Panathinaikos and UNICS Kazan before joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2022. During his time with Real Madrid, he reached the EuroLeague final three times and secured six titles, including one EuroLeague championship and two Spanish league titles. His decision to leave Real Madrid, with whom he had a contract for three more years, signifies his strong desire to once again compete in the NBA.

“

I never liked the way I left the NBA, but the past five years were exactly what I wanted and needed. I am overjoyed to start a new chapter of my career with the Cavaliers, a team and organization I have always admired and deeply respected.