Wire flash
SportsMario Hezonja pays €850k buyout to leave Real Madrid, eyes NBA return
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
Mario Hezonja announced he will pay the €850,000 buyout clause to leave Real Madrid and return to the NBA. The move initially raised suspicions at Madrid as his destination was unknown. However, after LeBron James chose the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors—who missed out on James—emerged as the main candidates to sign Hezonja. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that both teams face salary cap issues and see the Croatian as a budget-friendly, experienced option. Hezonja, 31, played 335 NBA games with Orlando, New York, and Portland before returning to Europe, where he won the EuroLeague with Madrid in 2023 and was named MVP of the season. His departure was also influenced by the exit of coach Sergio Scariolo. Hezonja's decision appears genuine, ending speculation it was a ploy to evade his Madrid contract.
Source report
Mario Hezonja announced this week that he would pay the buyout clause allowing him to leave Real Madrid for the NBA. The move raised suspicions at the club, as neither the player's destination was known nor had he paid the €850,000 required to exit his current contract with Madrid.
Hezonja's decision to return to the NBA became clearer once LeBron James's choice was revealed. James has selected the Philadelphia 76ers, leaving two other options—the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors—without the league's biggest star.
Now that both teams have missed out on James, they have the necessary funds to pursue Hezonja, who has generated significant interest with his desire to return to the American league six years after his last stint.
Main Candidates
According to ESPN journalist Shams Charania, who has strong sources within the league, the Cavaliers and Warriors are emerging as the leading candidates to sign the Croatian forward.
Both teams face salary cap issues and luxury tax concerns when pursuing high-cost players. They view Hezonja as a valuable option—an experienced player familiar with the NBA who can be signed for a salary within their budget.
Hezonja decided to return to the NBA midway through last season after changing agents and exploring his future options. The departure of coach Sergio Scariolo was another trigger for Hezonja to leave Madrid, despite holding a multi-million dollar contract through 2029.
NBA Experience
The 31-year-old Croatian has played 335 games in the NBA across three teams:
- Orlando Magic (the team that drafted him)
- New York Knicks
- Portland Trail Blazers
After a solid career in the United States, Hezonja returned to Europe and won the EuroLeague with Madrid in 2023, with additional opportunities to win in 2024 and 2026.
His outstanding season with Madrid earned him recognition as MVP of the season, though his team suffered an embarrassing playoff exit against La Laguna Tenerife, being eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Now, all indications point to Hezonja securing an NBA contract, putting aside speculation that the move might have been a trick to evade his Madrid contract and sign with another European team via a short-term deal in the United States.
Source
Últimas NoticiasRegional
Part of this Story
Mario Hezonja has suitors for NBA return after announcing Madrid exit