His name may still be mentioned in connection with teams in Europe (and Greece), but Mario Hezonja showed no inclination to return immediately from the NBA during the Cavaliers’ media day. On the contrary, he stated that he is determined to seize the second chance the Cavaliers have offered him in the U.S.
“I can’t stand the sun. I’m not a sun person. I don’t like the heat. I can’t take it anymore. I’ve traveled all over the world. I’ve been to Spain twice, to Orlando, to Croatia—sun everywhere. I’m completely fed up with this situation. So, clouds, rain, snow. Thank you, Cleveland,” the Croatian star emphasized.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The 31-year-old forward explained that returning to the NBA had been his goal for years, but he first wanted to achieve more in Europe. “Returning to the NBA was an option I’d had all these years. But I realized I wanted to return to my homeland after the COVID bubble. It’s very easy to say, ‘I want to dominate, I want to be the best, I want to win it all.’ But actually doing it is a bit different. So, I’m very grateful to be back, because it always bothered me a little that I came to the NBA so young and without having accomplished anything significant yet.”
The Cavaliers’ interest isn’t new. “They’ve been after me for a year and a half. There was also a great opportunity to come earlier, finish the season with the team, and then start the next season already knowing everyone—the staff and everything else. But at the time, I didn’t want to seem disloyal and put my team, Real Madrid, in a difficult position. We had a very difficult season two years ago. We didn’t even know if we’d make the playoffs. However, I always felt like I was ready. I just wanted to achieve everything I hadn’t been able to before I was drafted.”
When asked how he had changed during those years away from the NBA, he replied: “Well, there are two aspects. First, as a player, I’ve always liked that American mindset of improving over the summer, developing, and adding new elements to your game. I was already able to do that here during the summers, and then I was given the opportunity to turn those summers into full seasons—many seasons—in Europe. That was crucial for me. Obviously, there were teams and clubs that were built around me, which really boosted my mindset and progress, since basketball is my whole life. I don’t focus on other things. Then you see progress happening step by step, game by game, season by season. You keep reaching new levels, and individual accolades start coming your way. Not that those are the most important things in Europe, but I want to win it all—both individually and as a team. That gave me an even greater drive to go after the toughest honors. In the end, I won almost all of them. There are still a few left, but that’s okay.”
He also spoke about his physical development. “When I was drafted, I was 1.98 m tall and weighed 86 kg. I remember looking like a kid, even in the Summer League. I had tremendous talent and found ways to perform, but physically I wasn’t exactly an NBA-caliber player. Now I’m coming back at 2.06 m and 118 kg. That definitely adds to the versatility that the team and Kenny Atkinson can take advantage of. I’ve spoken with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. It’s helpful for them to have a player like this, who can assist them in many ways on the court: setting screens, creating space for them, and everything else that goes with it. That versatility is what defines not only the NBA but the entire world of basketball these days.”
*photo source: AP
