It was a bitter debut season in the country of stars and stripes for Sasha Embroidery. The former MVP ofEuroleague 2023 has visibly struggled to find space within the rotations of the Sacramento Kingsfinding himself against a sporting system totally different from the European one he was used to.
His latest statements focus precisely on this off-field aspect and how it has negatively affected his performances.
With all that travel, my first season in the NBA was crazy. You go from one hotel to another and from there to the arena and training facilities. Then you play with a different team and have to read the scouting report. Then you play and travel again. It’s really hard to remember everything
Sasha Vezenkov
Judging by the words of the former player ofOlympiakos the impact with the NBA system was quite traumatic precisely because of the long and exhausting journeys to cross the length and breadth of the States during the regular season. The frenetic pace of the League has always been a major obstacle for players who approach it from the old continent. Despite the experience and pedigree gained in the prestigious Euroleague, many players find themselves having to deal with a new zero year of their career when they decide to make the leap towards this world.
In addition to this, Vezenkov also had to deal with an evident lack of trust in him on the part of the Kings’ coaching staff which greatly limited his playing time, making his adaptation even slower, which probably still appears to be in progress. . During his last season with Olympiacos, 2022-2023, Vezenkov averaged 28.7 minutes per game, with 12.1 field goals attempted.
During his “rookie” year in the NBA, he tested the parquet alone 42 voltewithout ever a starting opportunity, with 12.2 minutes per game and 4.5 shots attempted per game. 5.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.5 assistsaverages that definitely do not seem to speak of the player who dominated in Europe until a few years ago.
A similar fate seemed to have struck too Vasilije Micic. Stand-in for the invisible man in that time OKC, Averaged 12 minutes per game, 3.3 points, 2.5 assists, but who was lucky enough to land early in Charlotte, where, thanks to the absence of Lamelo Ball due to injury and the rebuilding plans of the franchise, he had more opportunities to showcase his qualities. With them Hornets Micic has collected respectable averages, 27.2 minutes per game, 10.8 points, 6.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds.
It therefore seems clear how much European players need time and trust to be able to best settle into the US league, but will the Sacramento Kings be willing to review their beliefs about Vezenkov by giving him more space and license during the next season?
Vezenkov has a $6.658 million guaranteed contract through the 2024-2025 season and the Kings have a team option on him for 2025-2026 worth $6.975 million. According to various rumors the player is openly dissatisfied with the use of him; however, he appears determined to want to remain in the League at least for the moment. The summer will be decisive in understanding whether the two sides will be able to find a technical agreement or whether the former Euroleague MVP will move in search of a franchise capable of offering him the minutes he feels he deserves.
2024-06-24 12:19:13
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