Mario Hezonja's next move could be the most important of his career / News - Basketnews.com

Mario Hezonja has already won a EuroLeague title with Real Madrid and might go for a repeat this season. However, his contract expires at the end of the season and his future is still up in the air. The prospect of returning to Panathinaikos may be too hard to turn down, but at the same time, there may be room for surprises.

Credit: Hezonja Real (Getty Images) Hezonja Pana (Scanpix) Credit Hezonja Real (Getty Images) Hezonja Pana (Scanpix)

WhenMario Hezonjaleft Europe in 2015 to play in the NBA, he was one of the most exciting talents in the continent. A small forward with guard instincts and decidedly above-average athleticism.

Mario Hezonja

MIN:22.03PTS:13 (56.37%)REB:4.37As:0.56ST:0.93BL:0.11TO:0.93GM:27ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

The hype around his plays, even on the other side of the ocean, was huge, and it was no coincidence that theOrlando Magicdrafted him with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 Draft.

Despite unquestionable talent, Hezonja's NBA experience has been far from memorable. In his three seasons with the Magic, the Croatian player has lived in a total rebuilding environment, dealing with constant change and inconsistent usage.

"I was done. After the bubble, I called my sister, and I said, pick me up before I rubbed over there," Hezonja explained to our Donatas Urbonas in 2021.

Now, Hezonja is a key member of Real Madrid, and his numbers have grown compared to the previous year, but with his contract expiring in June, the shadows over his future in Madrid are increasing by the day.

As Marca reported and confirmed to BasketNews, Hezonja has already turned down a contract extension proposal from the Spanish powerhouse.

According to BasketNews sources, the possibility of returning Panathinaikos is

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