Former Magic Top Pick Hezonja, Playing in Spain, Could Return to NBA

Mario Hezonja, drafted by the Orlando Magic with the No. 5 overall pick in 2015, spent five seasons as a bench player in the NBA before returning to Europe. The Athletic is reporting that Hezonja, now 29, is drawing the interest of several teams.

Mar 28, 2018; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Mario Hezonja (8) drives to the basket as Brooklyn Nets forward DeMarre Carroll (9) defends during the first quarter at Amway Center. / Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

ORLANDO — Former Orlando Magic forward Mario Hezonja could be nearing a return to the NBA.

The Athletic Insider Sham Charania reported that the 6-foot-8 Croatian forward has been drawing interest from NBA teams. Hezonja, 29, played this season for Euroleague's Real Madrid of Spain and averaged 11.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

"Mario Hezonja has an NBA out until July 19 this summer as part of [an] extension with Euroleague's Real Madrid, and sources say he is receiving interest from multiple teams to return to NBA," Charania wrote on X.

Orlando drafted Hezonja with the No. 5 overall pick in 2015. He spent only three seasons with the Magic and averaged 9.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in 2017-18.

He then signed consecutive one-year deals with the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers and returned to Europe after the 2019-20 season.

Free Agency begins on June 30.

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