Mario Hezonja explains gesture towards PAO fans, addresses upcoming free agency / News - Basketnews.com

Mario Hezonja clarifies what he meant with the cryptic gesture he made to Panathinaikos' fans. The Croatian international also touches on PAO allegedly trying to buy him out of his contract last summer and gives priority to Real Madrid once his current deal is over.

Credit: Panagiotis Moschandreou/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images) Credit Panagiotis Moschandreou/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)

The calendar read November 11, 2021, whenMario Hezonjareturned to the OAKA arena for the first time since he left the team he grew to love while being a professional basketball player.

Player of the Game EFF 23 Mario Hezonja Points 19 Accuracy 7-11 Rebounds 1 Assists 2

That night, the Croatian star contributed 9 points on a meager 2/7 from the field, asUNICS Kazansurvived a close thriller against the hosts, Panathinaikos Athens. For Hezonja, the fact that his side won a balanced outing in a tough court could hardly give him any comfort.

Roughly 13 months after his first return, Hezonja came back to a renovated OAKA to play a rebrandedPanathinaikos AKTOR Athenssquad featuring several stars.

His jersey wasn't green anymore but all-white. His resume had been decorated by the EuroLeague trophyReal Madridwon last May in Kaunas after knocking down PAO's main rivals,Olympiacos Piraeus, in the title game.

And, more importantly, the booing and the rants were replaced by rounds of applause, chants with his nickname ('Super Mario'), and the urge that he soon come back to that very arena -- not as an opponent, but as a member of the home team.

But the real highlight of the night only came after the final buzzer.

As the players from both sides were heading to the locker room and following Mathias Lessort's move to face the slightly disenchanted yet noisy crowd and thank them for their support, Hezonja approached Gate 13 to thank them for the warm reception.

He then made a gesture with his hands before raising them in the air.

Taken at face value, the gesture seemed like a 'see you later' sign. But Hezonja has attached a different meaning and purpose to his non-verbal communication with PAO fans.

"I told them

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