The Minnesota Timberwolves were reportedly interested in current EuroLeague champion and MVP Sasha Vezenkov before signing Jonathan Kuminga.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Timberwolves explored the possibility of convincing two-time EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov to give the NBA another shot and join them for the upcoming season.
“League sources tell The Stein Line that Minnesota indeed explored the feasibility of trying to convince Vezenkov to give the NBA one more shot before the Timberwolves’ recent signing of Jonathan Kuminga. Sources say no formal offer from the Wolves was made, but that’s presumably because the 31-year-old indicated that he was not open to a return,” Stein reports.
“Sometimes, even a bad experience helps”
Vezenkov spoke with Stein about a potential return to the NBA, emphasizing that while he never says never, it is difficult to consider right now since his life is settled in Europe.
“It’s tough now because here is my family… here is my life. With Olympiacos we won a lot of stuff. But in my life, I know it’s better to never say never,” Vezenkov told Stein, adding:
“Sometimes I think it was not a fair chance (in 2023/24 with the Kings) from both sides… neither from my side and neither from Sacramento. But I don’t regret it all. It was a great experience.
Maybe I regret I didn’t do it earlier in my career at a younger age. But the experience I take with me forever. The NBA… it’s the greatest players in the world. I learned a lot. I improved my game. I improved my whole vision of the game.”
The Bulgarian power forward was then asked if he missed the NBA, and his answer speaks volumes:
“Sometimes, even a bad experience helps.”
Vezenkov’s stint in NBA and triumphant return
Sasha Vezenkov was originally selected as the 57th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, but didn’t make his league debut until 2023, by which time he had already established himself as one of the top players in the EuroLeague with Olympiacos.
In his sole NBA season, playing for the Sacramento Kings, he averaged 5.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in about 12 minutes per game across 44 appearances.
Following his brief stint in the NBA, he returned to Olympiacos, where he managed to win EuroLeague MVP honors and lead the team to its first EuroLeague title in 13 years.
