Mario Hezonja Returns to NBA, Signs One-Year Deal with Cleveland Cavaliers
Mario Hezonja, the Croatian forward and recent Real Madrid basketball star, is returning to the NBA after six years in Europe. According to ESPN reporter Shams Charania, Hezonja has agreed to a one-year contract worth $2.8 million with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 31-year-old, standing 2.06 meters tall, secured a buyout from his contract with Real Madrid that allowed him to leave exclusively for the NBA.
Hezonja played five NBA seasons previously with the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, and Portland Trail Blazers before moving to Europe in 2020. Since then, he has become a major EuroLeague player, initially joining Panathinaikos, then Kazan, and spending the last four seasons with Real Madrid. During his first season back in Europe, he won the EuroLeague title with Real Madrid.
Reports indicated Hezonja wanted to leave Real Madrid and was also sought after by several European teams, including Hapoel Tel Aviv. His return to the NBA marks a significant move after establishing himself as a top player in European basketball over recent years.
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