After much speculation over the past week, Mario Hezonja was selected by the Orlando Magic. It comes as a bit of a surprise, considering Sacramento and Denver were heavily linked to the 20 year-old Croatian. Instead, Hezonja can be labeled as a top five pick and will join an intriguing young team in the weakened Eastern conference. Orlando is filled with rising stars such as Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton.
They have one of the most underrated big men in Nikola Vucevic, who should help guide him through being from Eastern Europe. Orlando is an ideal situation for Hezonja to develop and help push Orlando towards becoming a perennial playoff team. He won’t have to endure the intense New York environment. Despite Vlade Divac being the Vice President, Sacramento’s future is unclear following trade rumors involving star center Demarcus Cousins. Denver is another team that has a long rebuilding process ahead of them.
It has become well documented that the Eastern conference isn’t very challenging. Teams have made the playoffs from winning just 37 games. Orlando is certainly capable of surprising teams based on their talent. Many questions still surround the newest Croatian player in the NBA. How will Hezonja adjust to Scott Skiles’ rigorous coaching style? Skiles is notorious for being a no-nonsense coach. It’ll be essential for Hezonja to temper his “confidence” and work hard in learning Skiles’ system.
It was a special night for Croatian basketball to see one of their own become a top-five pick. Unfortunaely, Hezonja had to stay in Barcelona and was reduced to doing interviews over the phone. Orlando fans will realize that Hezonja’s personality will be showcased soon enough. His fearless attitude should be appreciated by everyone.
The main questions pertain to how he adjusts towards playing under a tough-minded head coach and transitioning to the physical nature of the NBA. Bojan Bogdanovic said repeatedly how the adjustment period takes a significant period of time. Hopefully that will be remembered, as Croatia’s most acclaimed prospect in over a decade begins his career in a loose environment.
Twitter: @Allen_Strk
Nah, this site needs Ziva Istina.
Hey everybody, do you know how much better this website would be without our Serbian Tata, Ziva Istina?
Hey, everbody…….check it out. Another wannabe Ziva Istina.
Srecan vidovdan svima!
Isti kurac drugi dan
I just wonder why he was on the roster and traveled to Crete if everyone was aware of this. They can’t bring in another player and he was sent home.
@ Ziva i Maminjo
You both make good points here.
Bender should have told Adidas that he had to play. What would they do? Sue him? Over wanting to play for his country ?
I understand HKS being a limited organization that needed a gear contract to outfit all the teams at various youth levels.
Bizarre case because of who he is for the u19 team.
This takes leadership from the HKS to realize that you have multi million dollar assets through your ranks and with that comes many entities to deal with agents-clubs-sneaker deals-Fathers etc…
18 year old can’t be expected to navigate this.
I call BS from all sides.
The worst part in all this is a vital spot in the 12 man roster is a lost opportunity for one of our kids to develop into a pro.
Once again you can’t make this up with our national sports set up.
@soul champ……usually at the senior level the sponsorship for the national team is for everything but the shoes. Never been an issue to wear another pair of shoes. At the you level it is a bit more complicated. So e deals include everything, even shoes.
Mamic vs Kovac. Round 1.
Begin…
What do you expect the HKS to do now?
Bender signed a deal with adidas to wear their kicks, and he is refusing to play (if he did, adidas would just forcibly pull him out).
The HKS signed a deal with Jordan Brand to have their NT wear their kicks, so now we’re at a standstill.
I guess the HKS didn’t have to sign that deal in the first place, but now they’re fuct.
This hurts Bender really more than anyone. The mock drafts already have him as a lotto pick next year. Tournaments like the U19 World Cup are a great way to boost or solidify your draft stock…especially if you’re a player with a large buyout like Bender has with Maccabi, where you’ll need all the exposure you can get.
And it’s not like Bender is making any big time money with his Adidas deal. It a typical small level deal that Adidas gives to young player with so e potential.
A true mess…..just look at the elections that took place with the savez. More proof of what a joke Cro is.
Does the senior team have the same stipulations ?
What national team gives all their power to gear sponsorship?
How does the HKS not get ahead of this as to either work something out or give his spot to someone else?
Now we have 11 and a kid in Croatia goes without an opportunity.
Ajdu picku materinu.
Mental midgets is Istina with this one.
šteta
I think Duje is a good athlete and could bring something off the bench in the future.
He gets down with a good euro team and may develop into a solid player for the national team.
Not a travesty that he is called into camp.
Can’t bender wear Adidas sneakers with his Jordan jersey?
If Adidas has you under contract then you have to wear Adidas kicks.
Is the u19 team demanding he wear brand Jordan kicks?
On a side note CP3 are the best in the line.
This is the rub here, Bender is an NBA lottery pick with an Adidias contract.
Brand Jordan is seeking to corner the Euro grassroots market.
Croatia basketball is finally back in the mix as the hottest youth program in Europe.
This could be worked out if someone from the HKS had some communication skills. But when you get gaga over some gear sponsorship then you have given all your power.
I love that we are so relevant in the grassroots sneaker market.
Shows that we are back in the mix once again as euro power in hoops.
This should get all worked out.
U want more proof that sports in Cro are run by idiots and mental midgets. Bender refusing to play for the U 19 team because they wear Jordan brand, Bender is Adidas.
Yes, the old man called in a few favors. I doubt the kid makes the final roster, but he doesn’t deserve even this call.
Ivica “Duke” Dukan is the father.
The son is Duje Dukan. I assume you meant that Duje was called up.
Perasovic is the coach. Another questionable move. He put Duke Dukan on the preliminary list. DUKAN???? Helps to have his dad calling in favors
@ Dukic
Even better!
@ Perasović
YOU need to start Hezonja at Eurobasket.
I thought Perasovic was the coach of repka not Repesa.
@ Soul Champ I read that Petrovic was about to quit the NBA and head back to Europe.
Nah, doubtful. I’m not a loser (although that is debatable) and I am no jock sniffer so I won’t need a jersey.
I wonder if pro athletes sit back and laugh at people who wear their jersey. They have to be……”check out this dude, he doesn’t know me and he wants to wear my last name. I bet I could screw his wife and he would let me. Hell, he would probably pay me so he could watch me screw his wife.”
(Actually, this is true. A friend of mine plays in the NFL and this was an actual offer to him.).
http://www.magicbasketballonline.com/2015/06/26/hezonja-to-wear-23-harvey-1-for-orlando/
Let the jersey sales begin!
@ Ziva
Special youth sizes for you to sport in the basement.
Or you can hang it next to your Luka Modric Real Madrid jersey.
He drops 3’s and plays above the rim.
The two skills that fans love.
Plus he is a guard that more kids can relate to.
Dražen Petrović was on the brink of super stardom before he tragically passed. He already had the respect of real ball players around the world. He would have made his first NBA all star team and then his marketing levels would of went through the roof.
Kukoč plays for any other team besides Bulls, would win less but would of displayed even more of his playmaking abilities.
Going 5 to the current Magic is the best placement for a košarkaš EVER!
Bogdanović would thrive in Orlando with that athletic back court. Instead he gets burned out with over the hill veterans who stress his energy.
Hezonja will be all over All-Star weekend with that rookie challenge game and dunk contest and maybe 3 point contest if he can get it going at high clip right away.
Folks are hungry for something novel (linsanity, Dellavedova, etc…)
You got a Hrvat who plays with some real swag.
I hope it’s NIKE. Not into UA. Adidas could be cool if they could ever develop a decent hoops sneaker.
@ Repesa
Time to play Hezonja !!!
I need a new pair of Hezonja’s.
That has to be a contender for post of the year!
Kids in the ‘hood are gonna be like “damn I need me a new pair of Hezonja’s!”
Next thing you know people will be getting shot for their Hezonja’s too.
I can see it now!
@ Allen
Beast #23.
My seven year old will be rocking that ASAP !
Stereotype LIFT!
Then I will get him Šarić , Bender , Bajo , etc…
If Hezonja plays well the Magic will market him to the tilt.
He may be the first Croatian to have his own sneaker !
Jordan, Lebron, Hezonja(!)?… You guys weren’t kidding when you said he’s cocky.
I like it!
For all the “jocksniffers” out there, Hezonja is wearing 23 like the legend that he is.
The Bruins traded forward Milan Lucic to the LA Kings
It won’t be easy rooting for the Kings this year.
http://dalje.com/en-croatia/if-our-countries-are-nationalistic-why-do-only-antifascists-get-rich/543874
@majstore…… that is old news to me. I brought this up well over a year ago. Glad this is getting attention in Germany.
@HAET
Truthfully I care more about the planet than the people on it.
We’ve all got our own agenda’s.
http://www.vecernji.hr/nogomet/nijemci-tvrde-suker-je-bio-u-bliskom-kontaktu-s-kladionicarskom-mafijom-1012193
No mention of this yet?
I can’t wait to see him talk crap to all the crnci. Gonna be awesome.
@ Victor, Heat or whatever you call yourself
I told you long time ago to marry white woman and have as many babies as possible and that is only thing YOU can do.
Stop lectures.
@Poglavnik, you’re hypocrite and everybody knows it. You have called anybody who wants to preserve White founded countries for White children a “hater”, while you actually talk nothing but shit about Serbs.
Unlike you, I proved that the name I called you (hypocrite) is accurate.
^ ^
And great job Allen!
Your work is appreciated.
^ ^
Good luck Mario!
@Victor
Wrong, Milicic was the correct answer…
I think calling you a Serb would be more appropriate, and much more insulting.
What is there to comment on????? He got drafted. End of story.
Summer League is next week, but that doesn’t mean anything. We’ve watched guys light it up in Summer League and do nothing in the NBA and we have also watched guys do nothing in the Summer League and and have great NBA careers.
If you guys ever have the chance to interview him, the Partizan question should be at the top of the list. Nobody cares how is adjustment is going and his thoughts on his rookie year. Diaspora hrvati need to know what kind of hrvat he is.
@Victor…………what the hell are you talking about? Did your parents fail you?
Scrolls through comments list. Doesn’t see one thing about Hezonja with Orlando or the draft in general.
What a shame.
@Poglavnik, I’m going with Kwame, simply because he’s black. Now like the doublethinking moron you are, you’re going to call me a “hater”, right?
Anybody who says preserving the race that founded Croatia is unimportant, that the only thing that’s important is preserving “Croatian culture & language” is not only not a nationalist, but is the polar opposite of a nationalist. Not to mention the fact that when the culture creating race is blending out, so is the culture they created.
And anybody who’s supposedly a “proud Croat” and is against nationalism is a doublethinking moron.
Question; Who was a bigger bust, Darko Milicic or Kwame Brown?
Their numbers are almost identical.
I’m going with Darko, simply because he’s a Serb…
Going to a Croatian website created by a guy named Dejan is like reading Croatian football articles written by a guy Named Alexander.
Good luck!
No Dejan F U!!!
Haha Ante. Gud van, shieeeet.
Typical Jewbrovcan move by Hezonja to spark controversy by rooting for Partizan. He’s a business man first, athlete second. It’s in his blood.
Dejo, your website already exists. It’s called Index.
@dejan……yeah, good luck with that website. So, your website will be restrictive. Sure sounds like a solid business model and plan you got going there, doesn’t it?
Why are you taking things so personally. Relax man. We are discussing sports.
@Dehab………….Why do you have to direct expletives at me????? Why?????? I have no clue if he does or does not root for Partizan. That was his quote; it was not made up. He might have been messing around or maybe not. The question deserves to be asked and answered. Diaspora hrvati need to know if he is a fan of Partizan before they make the decision to invest time in watching him. All I do is ask the question. Nothing more and nothing less.
And you make it sound like the word “nationalist” is a bad thing. Ohh, the opposite my friend. Being termed a nationalist is a badge of honor. You know what “nationalists” do. They respect the flag and country of croatia. They defend Croatia and stick up for it. They encourage others to learn the language and history of Croatia. They call for diaspora hrvati to go to church and be good hrvati. You can’t just throw aorund “bog i hrvati” without visiting bog on Sundays. That, my friend, is what a nationalist is. And I take pride in being called a nationalist.
THIS WHOLE SITE IS TOO NATIONALISTIC! SOME OF YOU WERE BORN IN USA.
Long story short, I’m making my own Croatian sports site, It’s going to murder this one. To the owners of this site, you will never be taken seriously when you support idiots like “Ziva Istina” your fan base will be only that when the majority of people are about love and peace. Screw your nationalist messages.
hmmmmmmmm????????? Grobar Hezonja????? Excellent question. Before diaspora hrvati go all out diapsora hrvati and buy his jersey, I think that question needs to be posed and answered. By the way, Hezonja or Grobar Hezonja is 20 years old. If you are 21 years old or older, there is no reason for you to buy and wear the kid’s jersey. All you have to do is ask yourself the folowing: Would Hezonja or Grobar Hezonja wear a jersey with your last name on the back? If the answer is no, then why would you do the same. I’ve said in the past that it is ok for a kid to wear a jersey with a name on the back. While this is true, it does set a bad example. It shows the father is willing to humiliate his own name by allowing his son to carry the last name of another man. Don’t ever be embarrased of your own name.
What say you croatian sports dot com nation? Should Grobar Hezonja be added to the list. Here are a few that he would join:
Mahir Mandzuka
Puppet Suker
Strucnjak Stimac
Kum Kovac
Serb Subasic
Doper Cilic
Marriage Wrecker Kranjcar
Daddy’s Boy Tomic
Cro Mall Cop
There are more, but I am in crunch for time.
Ziva Istina
You’re the reason Croats are being dumb asses. Who cares if he likes a Serbian team you nationalist prick!
Ziva,
Great question to pass on. I’m shocked you haven’t started referring to him as a Grobar
Why does Darko Milicic constantly get mocked? He did not draft himself. Joe Dumars is the one who should have been mocked all along. This isn’t even a Ryan Leaf situation whereby Leaf dominated his completion in college. Milicic never dominated his competion in the league he played in before the nba; I think Dumars decided to draft Milicic after seeing one walk-around practice. Was Milicic supposed to say “no, I don’t deserve to be the second pick, I’m not taking the money”?
And Larry Brown SHAMEFULLY SHAMEFULLY abusing Milicic b/c he was angry at Dumars for picking Milicic is as low as it gets: making a teenage kid in a new world “the human victory cigar”. SHAME.
If you guys ever get the chance to interview Hezonja, will you ask him about this:
http://www.vecernji.hr/kosarka/hezonja-partizan-mi-je-najdrazi-klub-drazi-i-od-cibone-428812
Diaspora hrvati dont take too well to someone who likes Partizan.