Mario Hezonja Returns to NBA, Signs One-Year Deal with Cleveland Cavaliers

Mario Hezonja, the Croatian forward who has been a key player for Real Madrid over the past four seasons, is returning to the NBA after six years away. According to reports from Shams Charania and ESPN, 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 had expressed a desire to leave Real Madrid and return to the NBA, while also attracting interest from several European teams, including Hapoel Tel Aviv. Previously, Hezonja played five NBA seasons with the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, and Portland Trail Blazers. Since returning to Europe in 2020, he has become a prominent EuroLeague player, starting with Panathinaikos, then Kazan, and finally Real Madrid, where he won the EuroLeague title in his first season back.

This move marks a significant return to the NBA for Hezonja, who had established himself as a top EuroLeague talent during his time in Europe. The Cavaliers will be his new team for the upcoming season, as he aims to make an impact back in the world’s premier basketball league.