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Once Predicted for NBA, Mazalin Returns to Cibona to Find His Path
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Sports

Once Predicted for NBA, Mazalin Returns to Cibona to Find His Path

From Veฤernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Lovro Mazalin, a 29-year-old Croatian basketball player, is returning to his former club Cibona for a third stint.
  • Mazalin, who was once considered a promising NBA prospect, has played in France and Spain and previously returned to Cibona at age 25.
  • He aims to continue developing his game as a power forward or center, embracing his role after initially playing as an outside player.

Lovro Mazalin, 29, is returning to Cibona, the club where he began his career, for his third stint with the "Wolves." Once touted as an NBA prospect, Mazalin's path has been less glamorous than some of his peers from a talented 1997 Croatian basketball generation that included NBA players like Ivica Zubac and Dragan Bender.

Cibona has stabilized, made progress, and I liked that they will play the Champions League.

โ€” Lovro MazalinMazalin explaining his decision to return to Cibona.

Mazalin, who stands at 204 cm, is preparing for a new season with Cibona, which will compete in three competitions. He spent his summer training in ล ibenik with his family, working on his game with a personal coach and his former mentor, Damir Meลกtroviฤ‡.

After I rest a bit, I 'grind' every summer. I start with the gym and then work on basketball, which comes down to 'reviewing the material' on technical elements plus a few new things, if I feel during the season that I can do something better.

โ€” Lovro MazalinDescribing his off-season training regimen.

His career has been a journey of finding his position. Initially an outside player, he transitioned to power forward or center under coach Neven Spasija at Gorica. "It was Spasija's idea for me to play in the paint," Mazalin said. "There's a big difference between being an outside and inside player, but I saw that I was good under the basket, and that's where the click happened. I realized it was better for me."

It was Spasija's idea for me to play in the paint. There's a big difference between being an outside and inside player, but I saw that I was good under the basket, and that's where the click happened. I realized it was better for me. I agreed to a new role and worked on it. Since then, I've never played as an outside player again.

โ€” Lovro MazalinRecalling his position change.

Despite not reaching the NBA heights predicted for him, Mazalin says he has come to terms with his career trajectory. "I think I've handled it well," he stated. "I had some dreams, but I didn't look at it with any jealousy towards those who achieved more than me. It took me a year or two to clear my head and start over. I have some persistence and faith in myself, and I still want to see how far I can go."

I think I've handled it well. I had some dreams, but I didn't look at it with any jealousy towards those who achieved more than me. It took me a year or two to clear my head and start over. I have some persistence and faith in myself, and I still want to see how far I can go.

โ€” Lovro MazalinReflecting on his career path compared to peers.
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Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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