Veteran forward Nemanja Bjelica announced his retirement from professional basketball via his Instagram on Saturday (Instagram link, hat tip to Sportando). Bjelica played seven seasons in the NBA with the Timberwolves, Kings, Heat and Warriors, winning a title with Golden State in what would be his final NBA season in 2021-22.
“20 years… thank you basketball…,” Bjelica’s Instagram post reads.
Bjelica began his career in 2007 while playing with the Traiskirchen Lions in the Austrian League. He was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2010 draft but didn’t make his way to the NBA until 2015, when he signed with the Wolves.
Throughout his career, Bjelica became well-regarded as a stretch four and reliable rotation piece. He had his two best statistical seasons in 2018-20 while playing with the Kings, where he averaged 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 41.1% from three and starting in 137 of his 149 appearances.
He was traded from the Kings to Miami at the 2020 deadline and then signed with the Warriors in 2021. He averaged 6.1 points in the regular season (71 games, 16.1 minutes) to help the Warriors to the playoffs and eventually the title.
After leaving the NBA, Bjelica returned to Fenerbahce, where he was the 2014-15 MVP. He was released after the season and then moved to Crvena Zvezda in Serbia but didn’t play a game. Reports surfaced in October 2023 that Bjelica might retire, which is officially confirmed with today’s news.
In 449 career games (162 starts) in the NBA, Bjelica averaged 7.6 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 46.6% from the floor and 38.4% from beyond the arc.
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