Former Portland Trail Blazers forward Mario Hezonja is back in the NBA after signing a one-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania:
EuroLeague star Mario Hezonja has agreed to a one-year, $2.8 million deal to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Michael Tellem of Excel Sports Management told ESPN.
It was reported about a week ago by Spanish reporter Chema de Lucas that Hezonja informed Real Madrid that he would be returning to the NBA.
The 31-year-old Hezonja last played
in the NBA for the Blazers during the 2019-20 season before heading to the EuroLeague and Liga Endesa (Spain’s top professional men’s league) where he’s spent most of that time -including the last four seasons – playing for Real Madrid. He has combined EuroLeague and and Liga Endesa averages since playing in the NBA of 13.4 points, 4.3 boards, and 1.7 assists on 45.7% shooting while hitting 36% from deep on 4.9 attempts.
He recently earned MVP honors in his most recent season for Real Madrid in the Liga Endesa league and was also named MVP of the 2027 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers.
Hezonja was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2015 and spent three seasons there before heading to the New York Knicks in 2018 and finally landing in Portland for his lone season in 2019.
