Former Blazer Mario Hezonja Eyes NBA Return

Former Portland Trail Blazers forward Mario Hezonja may be returning to the NBA next season, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of the Stein Line (subscription required).

Hezonja spent the past two seasons at Real Madrid and is increasingly coming up as a free agent to watch this offseason when it comes to an NBA return.

Hezonja, now 29, last played in the NBA during a one-year stint with the Blazers during the 2019-20 season. The 6-foot-8 Croatian forward spent the last four seasons overseas, winning the EuroLeague title with Real Madrid in 2023. In this past EuroLeague season, Hezonja averaged 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 0.9 assists, while shooting 43.1% on 3s.

His contract with Real Madrid expired at the end of the season, and the two sides have yet to reach an agreement, despite efforts from the club.

Truth be told, Blazers fans may shudder at the sound of Hezonja’s name, following that unsuccessful, near-infamous stint with the franchise almost five years ago. Fresh off their first Conference Finals appearance in 20 years, the Blazers brought in Hezonja as part of a modest free agency class that included Anthony Tolliver and an aging Pau Gasol. Hezonja, the No. 5 pick in the 2015 draft, was viewed as a low-risk, high-reward bargain if he could tap into that lottery upside after a few underwhelming seasons elsewhere.

He responded to the chance by averaging 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 30.8% on 3s as the Blazers floundered in a season derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The stats don’t really do the season justice, though. For that, turn to Blazer’s Edge alum Mark Plumlee’s 2020 elegy to the Hezonja Experience here.

But then you were just terrible, man. Like to a truly shocking degree.

You made us pine for days of Aminu, and the snap of his catapult three.

A do-it-all guard who seemingly couldn’t do anything at all,

you struggled whenever we needed you to shoot, pass, dribble or catch the ball.

/

You chased every highlight, but always fell short in spectacular fashion,

discovering new ways to turn the ball over, as if it were your passion.

While your game frustrated and confounded, I’ll admit I found it fun;

you were basketball’s Icarus, intent on repeatedly flying into the sun.

But poetry be damned, it appears Hezonja has been improving during his tenure overseas, especially that jump shot. Teams may be willing to take a chance on the Hezonja Experience once again.