2-Time EuroLeague Final Four MVP Has "Mistrust" For NBA

The Oklahoma City Thunder own his NBA draft rights, but it doesn't sound like Vasilije Micic is coming to the NBA anytime soon. The two-time EuroLeague Final Four MVP said in a recent interview, in speaking of the NBA, that “I felt a slight mistrust from the direction of the strongest league in the world, which they have towards many, not only me.

“I really don’t think I need to prove myself there... The current situation is good for me."

That "current situation" is playing in Turkey once again for the coming season, though he didn't completely rule out coming to the NBA. 

“The next step would be the NBA. It did not happen but I am calm with everything,” he added, “I felt some doubt from the NBA. That doubt expands to everybody in a similar position, not me exclusively. Unless you are Nikola Jokic or Luka Doncic.”

Micic was originally drafted in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, but the Thunder now own his rights after acquiring them in a 6-player trade in 2020.

The 28-year-old Micic was also named MVP of the regular season last year, averaging 18.1 points, 4.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals across 28 contests with Anadolu Efes.

Photo: NeymarJr ShaneLarkin, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons