The EuroLeague MVP Hated The NBA, So He Quit

The EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov just signed a historic contract with Olympiacos returning to Europe after just one season in the NBA. The EuroLeague MVP last summer signed with the Sacramento Kings and was supposed to be the missing piece that could help them compete for a title. It didn't work out for Sasha Vezenkov in Sacramento and the Kings traded him to the Toronto Raptors, and after a crazy saga that lasted over a month. He hated the NBA so much that he forced his way out leaving millions of dollars on the table. The Toronto Raptors waived Sasha Vezenkov and allowed him to return to Olympiacos. Where he will return and try to compete for a EuroLeague championship after falling short previously.

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#euroleague #sashavezenkov #nba #olympiacos

Gullible

[p-square]

As a Raptors fan, I was hoping he would have given the organization a chance. However, I totally understand why he wanted to go home.

[Ivanbg]

I think he felt a little betrayed. I think the Kings made him believe he will have a bigger role. Keep in mind he held off on going to the NBA and Kings made multiple trips to Europe to convince him. I am basing this on something he said in a Bulgarian interview which was something a long the lines of (it up to the coach, but it just sucks when you are told one thing and something different happens).

My guess is the Kings were honest with him after the season and told him they don't have a big role for him, so he asked for a trade, then he got traded to the Raptors where maybe he just didn't want to go to Canada or maybe he just didn't believe he will get enough playing time either.

My guess is he just wants to play.

[kiros]

You are not correct about his salary. 4m/year is after taxes in Olympiakos. In the NBA 6, 6m/year was without taxes. Actually he is getting more money in his current contract. Also his contract is in euro which is a bit more dollars.

[УрошУгарак]

the clip you showed for olympiacos fans is actually from a playoff game between crvena zvezda and cska moscow

[SwishArchives]

The Kings were a good offensive team, which may also be a reason he didn’t get much playing time. They need a defensive presence as well. Great video! Always an inspiration to my new channel

[Arponare]

7:50 That's not Masai Ujiri mate. Ujiri is a black dude.

[rtaparauskas]

It is funny that he signed already contact with euroleague team bigger than in nba. His contract in Olimpiacos is 5year 20mln € after tax, it means 4.4mln dollars per year. In nba his contract is 20mln $ per 3 year. After tax it would be around 3.5mln $/year. So his contract in Olimpiakos is + ~1mln $ greater

[j.brendenstookey]

The real reason the Kings could not afford to put him on the court was that he was a liability on defense. Teams would’ve picked on that matchup possession after possession.

[emilfrederiksen.]

NBA game is completely different from Euro league. Euro league is about teamwork and basketball fundamentals. While the NBA is more geared towards fast paced offenses and athleticism. Thats why you see past their prime NBA guys struggle in Europe and past their prime or in their prime Euro league players struggle in the NBA.

[chris-nqnc]

When Vassilis Spanoulis was on Houston van dummy treated him like a rookie and went on to be Euro league mvp possibly back 2 back

[yiannispalamas]

His case is exactly like Spanoulis' one.
At his second year he had been traded to Spurs (if my mem6is ok).
There he could have a chance.
But he was yotally disappointed, he mussed playing.
So he cane back to Europe.
What also they have in common, Sasha and Vassilis, is that they bith came back for the same team, Olympiakos. (personally not a fan)

[leecruz]

Who held him against his will? He was under contract that he’s required to complete. The raptors wanted him, Vezenkov didn’t what them. He was the diva in this story. When he got traded rumors immediately started floating that he signed a deal with the Euroleague. If anything, the raptors lost here because they traded for the guy they wanted to have but the player is acting out because surprise, NBA players are better than players in euroleague and he didn’t expect to be a bench player.

[raybandzz]

As a Kings fan I had high hopes for Sasha but his defense is actually unplayable and his shot is inconsistent without him being apart of the game plan. Euro League is a lot more team oriented where as NBA will find the weak target and isolate it all night.

[Iselas]

We raptor fans really wanted this guy, the team did not hold him hostage, the team tried to work out a deal to see if he would be willing to play in the NBA again. He chose to fly to the EU instead of Canada, he chose to go back to the Euroleague instead of a starters role in Toronto.
Toronto even had a Euro style coach, Sasha is a great player but he did not succeed in the NBA.

[chriskrak]

wow i saw a great mistake in your logic about money. in olympiacos is 4 mil/year clearly with no taxes. well 3, 7 is the right number the others are bonus. the 6, 6 mil $ in toronto with the biggest taxes in NBA would be less than 3 mil € / year. So he even get more money with his return. basics dude...

[iMusicShuffle]

Damn I want this guy on the Raptors. Sorry to see him go but hope he’s happy

[vlada]

Bjelica came to NBA and was misused by Wolves for 3yrs who wanted him to play a power 4 game. After that he backed out of a Sixers deal and was flying to europe when Kings convinced him to sign. Dave Joerger used his strong points like passing, shooting, iq, playmaking in a totally different way than Minny did.
So the Saša thing isnt surprising. Had he gone to SA or Denver it might have been different because just like with Joerger, the coach makes a difference.

[Mrdonjuliothewicked]

I remember Kings fans were saying this signing was gonna turn them into title contenders lol. What a time to be alive.

[GSino]

Nice video Man!
Greetings from Greece

[MichelePonte]

I'm happy he can be happy again. Most NBA teams wouldn’t know how to use him.