Mario Hezonja

[Rosque]

Did Mario say anything about this or is this just speculation? You really think young talent will avoid Barcelona?

he didn't say anything because he is professional. also if players are like mario who wanna get a year or two of experience at top level and that shiny bright spotlight they might go somewhere else because of the troubles with their **** coach who deliberately didn't put him in games when ainge, van gundy etc were in the stands and when he knows he must play him because he's one of the best he puts him to play 25 minutes like vs real madrid where he was best player on the court. he also didn't let him play through mistakes. like last game of finals v real. there were a lot of **** moves by barca.

[freestyler34]

hopefully all the gud players sign with real madrid moving forward.

I agree

If you are a teenager who wants to be one of the best players in the world world, you can't like how barca handeled this

Makes sense to go to a lower level team like prizingas did, star, have your season end early, and go... Be able to work out with teams, and do the interviews

Hezonja was still playing, a day before the draft!!! No one has interviewed him, or worked him out, or seen much of him because his coach at barca didn't care to play a 1-and-done player on his team

Hezonja is just so talented.
He is euro-kobe

As more stories come out, you kinda get that feeling from him, he is a workout fiend, he is a basketball nut. At a young age, he decided basketball is his life, he doesn't party, he doesn't club, h is all basketball all the time...

He is cocky, and he thinks he is the best player, he doesn't want to defer to other players that don't work as hard as him (sound familiar?)

You draft him to be your alpha
You draft him to be your leader. To be your scorer. To be your best player.

Are you his girlfriend or something ?

[Sports Geek]

Did Mario say anything about this or is this just speculation? You really think young talent will avoid Barcelona?

he didn't say anything because he is professional. also if players are like mario who wanna get a year or two of experience at top level and that shiny bright spotlight they might go somewhere else because of the troubles with their **** coach who deliberately didn't put him in games when ainge, van gundy etc were in the stands and when he knows he must play him because he's one of the best he puts him to play 25 minutes like vs real madrid where he was best player on the court. he also didn't let him play through mistakes. like last game of finals v real. there were a lot of **** moves by barca.

You can't see reality, you love Hezonja too much. Xavi Pascual is a professional coach working for a team that can't finish second. You finish second, you have many chances to be fired. Pascual needs to win titles if he wants to keep his job. So if Hezonja didn't have the minutes the most of us thought he deserved, I'm sure the coach know much more about him than any of us. Maybe they had problems in the locker room, maybe the veterans didn't accept a 19 y.o. kid telling to the media they don't put enough effort,.. Hezonja speaks way too much for a rookie. If you are Juan Carlos Navarro you earned the right to speak your mind, Hezonja still didn't. Really talented kid (I love him) but too cocky.

[Rosque]

Did Mario say anything about this or is this just speculation? You really think young talent will avoid Barcelona?

he didn't say anything because he is professional. also if players are like mario who wanna get a year or two of experience at top level and that shiny bright spotlight they might go somewhere else because of the troubles with their **** coach who deliberately didn't put him in games when ainge, van gundy etc were in the stands and when he knows he must play him because he's one of the best he puts him to play 25 minutes like vs real madrid where he was best player on the court. he also didn't let him play through mistakes. like last game of finals v real. there were a lot of **** moves by barca.

You can't see reality, you love Hezonja too much. Xavi Pascual is a professional coach working for a team that can't finish second. You finish second, you have many chances to be fired. Pascual needs to win titles if he wants to keep his job. So if Hezonja didn't have the minutes the most of us thought he deserved, I'm sure the coach know much more about him than any of us. Maybe they had problems in the locker room, maybe the veterans didn't accept a 19 y.o. kid telling to the media they don't put enough effort,.. Hezonja speaks way too much for a rookie. If you are Juan Carlos Navarro you earned the right to speak your mind, Hezonja still didn't. Really talented kid (I love him) but too cocky.

If you put better performances over some senior players you have the right to talk smack. You put 18 points while being the only consistent offensive threat and next game you get benched because of what? Because Ante Tomić decided to show up and he was fed in first quarter and scored 12 or sth of 18 of barca's points. He played 8 minutes that quarter. 10 the whole game. why? Hezonja is what kept Barca in the game when he scored 18. He hit Kobe-like three with defender in his face and cut the lead to 6 basically giving them a chance to win. THAT earns you right to talk and not seniority.

[ColdBlooded]

Rooting for Super Mario to pan out crew.

[Sports Geek]

he didn't say anything because he is professional. also if players are like mario who wanna get a year or two of experience at top level and that shiny bright spotlight they might go somewhere else because of the troubles with their **** coach who deliberately didn't put him in games when ainge, van gundy etc were in the stands and when he knows he must play him because he's one of the best he puts him to play 25 minutes like vs real madrid where he was best player on the court. he also didn't let him play through mistakes. like last game of finals v real. there were a lot of **** moves by barca.

You can't see reality, you love Hezonja too much. Xavi Pascual is a professional coach working for a team that can't finish second. You finish second, you have many chances to be fired. Pascual needs to win titles if he wants to keep his job. So if Hezonja didn't have the minutes the most of us thought he deserved, I'm sure the coach know much more about him than any of us. Maybe they had problems in the locker room, maybe the veterans didn't accept a 19 y.o. kid telling to the media they don't put enough effort,.. Hezonja speaks way too much for a rookie. If you are Juan Carlos Navarro you earned the right to speak your mind, Hezonja still didn't. Really talented kid (I love him) but too cocky.

If you put better performances over some senior players you have the right to talk smack. You put 18 points while being the only consistent offensive threat and next game you get benched because of what? Because Ante Tomić decided to show up and he was fed in first quarter and scored 12 or sth of 18 of barca's points. He played 8 minutes that quarter. 10 the whole game. why? Hezonja is what kept Barca in the game when he scored 18. He hit Kobe-like three with defender in his face and cut the lead to 6 basically giving them a chance to win. THAT earns you right to talk and not seniority.

I disagree. You are basing your opinion in the fact of Mario having a great game, a single game. An important one, I'll give you that one, he has done that a couple times this season against Real Madrid, but man, how can a kid that played just a couple great games disrespect Juan Carlos Navarro for example? I highly doubt Hezonja is going to have half the success Navarro is having throughout his carreer. That's why Navarro is a captain, a leader, everybody respects him, everybody listen to him when he talks. Veteran players are the ones that talk after a bad loss, you don't let a youngster talk **** about the team, no matter how good he is. Trust me, cocky youngsters aren't liked in locker rooms.

[Rosque]

You can't see reality, you love Hezonja too much. Xavi Pascual is a professional coach working for a team that can't finish second. You finish second, you have many chances to be fired. Pascual needs to win titles if he wants to keep his job. So if Hezonja didn't have the minutes the most of us thought he deserved, I'm sure the coach know much more about him than any of us. Maybe they had problems in the locker room, maybe the veterans didn't accept a 19 y.o. kid telling to the media they don't put enough effort,.. Hezonja speaks way too much for a rookie. If you are Juan Carlos Navarro you earned the right to speak your mind, Hezonja still didn't. Really talented kid (I love him) but too cocky.

If you put better performances over some senior players you have the right to talk smack. You put 18 points while being the only consistent offensive threat and next game you get benched because of what? Because Ante Tomić decided to show up and he was fed in first quarter and scored 12 or sth of 18 of barca's points. He played 8 minutes that quarter. 10 the whole game. why? Hezonja is what kept Barca in the game when he scored 18. He hit Kobe-like three with defender in his face and cut the lead to 6 basically giving them a chance to win. THAT earns you right to talk and not seniority.

I disagree. You are basing your opinion in the fact of Mario having a great game, a single game. An important one, I'll give you that one, he has done that a couple times this season against Real Madrid, but man, how can a kid that played just a couple great games disrespect Juan Carlos Navarro for example? I highly doubt Hezonja is going to have half the success Navarro is having throughout his carreer. That's why Navarro is a captain, a leader, everybody respects him, everybody listen to him when he talks. Veteran players are the ones that talk after a bad loss, you don't let a youngster talk **** about the team, no matter how good he is. Trust me, cocky youngsters aren't liked in locker rooms.

Where did you see that he disrespected Navarro? Please show me link of an article and I'll believe (don't show that biased Real Madrid newspapers). Okay, you doubt Hezonja is gonna have half the success. Why?

[MrTwister]

You can't see reality, you love Hezonja too much. Xavi Pascual is a professional coach working for a team that can't finish second. You finish second, you have many chances to be fired. Pascual needs to win titles if he wants to keep his job. So if Hezonja didn't have the minutes the most of us thought he deserved, I'm sure the coach know much more about him than any of us. Maybe they had problems in the locker room, maybe the veterans didn't accept a 19 y.o. kid telling to the media they don't put enough effort,.. Hezonja speaks way too much for a rookie. If you are Juan Carlos Navarro you earned the right to speak your mind, Hezonja still didn't. Really talented kid (I love him) but too cocky.

If you put better performances over some senior players you have the right to talk smack. You put 18 points while being the only consistent offensive threat and next game you get benched because of what? Because Ante Tomić decided to show up and he was fed in first quarter and scored 12 or sth of 18 of barca's points. He played 8 minutes that quarter. 10 the whole game. why? Hezonja is what kept Barca in the game when he scored 18. He hit Kobe-like three with defender in his face and cut the lead to 6 basically giving them a chance to win. THAT earns you right to talk and not seniority.

I disagree. You are basing your opinion in the fact of Mario having a great game, a single game. An important one, I'll give you that one, he has done that a couple times this season against Real Madrid, but man, how can a kid that played just a couple great games disrespect Juan Carlos Navarro for example? I highly doubt Hezonja is going to have half the success Navarro is having throughout his carreer. That's why Navarro is a captain, a leader, everybody respects him, everybody listen to him when he talks. Veteran players are the ones that talk after a bad loss, you don't let a youngster talk **** about the team, no matter how good he is. Trust me, cocky youngsters aren't liked in locker rooms.

Mario never said anything to ever disrespect JC Navarro.If anything, he always credited him for helping him grow as a player.Hell, he even mentioned him in his first interview via phone right after being drafted as one of the best players and guy which helped him develop.

I think you are swinging for fences with talk about seniority and leadership.Everybody know who is Navarro and what he means for Barcelona.But it was Hezonja who was interviewed after that game to give his comment about the game not Navarro.It might've sounded wrong,because he is the youngest from them, but he actually said nothing but truth.Effort from some players was not on the same level as their competition and as a result they lost.He knew Barcelona could play much better than they played in that game and he said it.Unless he was supposed to say they were playing good game but lost due other circumstances?

[seeingstars]

i'm still high on him. there's a lot to like about his game. he's still only 19. could still be growing. looks closer to 6'8 than his listed height. pristine stroke with a high release, bouncy athlete with easy rise, strong build, great footwork on the perimeter, has shot-creating potential, flashes play-making ability. no, he's not a great slasher atm. he needs to learn how to get lower on his drives, but he can attack closeouts and can make plays vertically with his bounce and body control once he gets to his launching areas.

he's slowly but surely maturing on the floor. he's shedding that selfish chucker label that he had a couple of yrs ago. just by looking at his %'s, it appears as though he has improved his shot selection. it's difficult to be an efficient shooter while being a low usage player, but he accomplished that this yr.
he's also becoming more of a solid defender as opposed to a gambler for steals.

still looks like a top 10 player to me, possibly the first wing taken in next yr's draft. i don't think there's a good comparison for him out of current players, but i see a little sean elliott in his game. at close to 6'8 i'd consider him a swingman though. his size played at the 2 would be a big bonus.

Fortune teller!

[Sports Geek]

If you put better performances over some senior players you have the right to talk smack. You put 18 points while being the only consistent offensive threat and next game you get benched because of what? Because Ante Tomić decided to show up and he was fed in first quarter and scored 12 or sth of 18 of barca's points. He played 8 minutes that quarter. 10 the whole game. why? Hezonja is what kept Barca in the game when he scored 18. He hit Kobe-like three with defender in his face and cut the lead to 6 basically giving them a chance to win. THAT earns you right to talk and not seniority.

I disagree. You are basing your opinion in the fact of Mario having a great game, a single game. An important one, I'll give you that one, he has done that a couple times this season against Real Madrid, but man, how can a kid that played just a couple great games disrespect Juan Carlos Navarro for example? I highly doubt Hezonja is going to have half the success Navarro is having throughout his carreer. That's why Navarro is a captain, a leader, everybody respects him, everybody listen to him when he talks. Veteran players are the ones that talk after a bad loss, you don't let a youngster talk **** about the team, no matter how good he is. Trust me, cocky youngsters aren't liked in locker rooms.

Where did you see that he disrespected Navarro? Please show me link of an article and I'll believe (don't show that biased Real Madrid newspapers). Okay, you doubt Hezonja is gonna have half the success. Why?

When I said Juan Carlos Navarro I meant the roster. He is a member of the roster so I just threw a heavyweight's name. I doubt he is going to have half the success Navarro had because Juan Carlos is enjoying a more successful career than 99% of the players. He has won every single title but the NBA, including MVP awards.

PS: don't think I'm a hardcore Real Madrid fan because of the badge I show on my profile, in fact my favourite FIBA players are Juan Carlos Navarro and Pau Gasol, from FC Barcelona. I think I'm pretty fair in my opinions, right or wrong, I try not to be biased.

[Rosque]

I disagree. You are basing your opinion in the fact of Mario having a great game, a single game. An important one, I'll give you that one, he has done that a couple times this season against Real Madrid, but man, how can a kid that played just a couple great games disrespect Juan Carlos Navarro for example? I highly doubt Hezonja is going to have half the success Navarro is having throughout his carreer. That's why Navarro is a captain, a leader, everybody respects him, everybody listen to him when he talks. Veteran players are the ones that talk after a bad loss, you don't let a youngster talk **** about the team, no matter how good he is. Trust me, cocky youngsters aren't liked in locker rooms.

Where did you see that he disrespected Navarro? Please show me link of an article and I'll believe (don't show that biased Real Madrid newspapers). Okay, you doubt Hezonja is gonna have half the success. Why?

When I said Juan Carlos Navarro I meant the roster. He is a member of the roster so I just threw a heavyweight's name. I doubt he is going to have half the success Navarro had because Juan Carlos is enjoying a more successful career than 99% of the players. He has won every single title but the NBA, including MVP awards.

So you're just emulating SAS with lies? Nice respond man.

You're also saying Mario's not gonna have better career than Navarro because he won every euro title? Well too bad Hezonja's in the NBA and 20 years old with loads of talent and even more work ethics. You can't judge a player at the end of prime and at the start of career. It's just dumb.

[Sports Geek]

If you put better performances over some senior players you have the right to talk smack. You put 18 points while being the only consistent offensive threat and next game you get benched because of what? Because Ante Tomić decided to show up and he was fed in first quarter and scored 12 or sth of 18 of barca's points. He played 8 minutes that quarter. 10 the whole game. why? Hezonja is what kept Barca in the game when he scored 18. He hit Kobe-like three with defender in his face and cut the lead to 6 basically giving them a chance to win. THAT earns you right to talk and not seniority.

I disagree. You are basing your opinion in the fact of Mario having a great game, a single game. An important one, I'll give you that one, he has done that a couple times this season against Real Madrid, but man, how can a kid that played just a couple great games disrespect Juan Carlos Navarro for example? I highly doubt Hezonja is going to have half the success Navarro is having throughout his carreer. That's why Navarro is a captain, a leader, everybody respects him, everybody listen to him when he talks. Veteran players are the ones that talk after a bad loss, you don't let a youngster talk **** about the team, no matter how good he is. Trust me, cocky youngsters aren't liked in locker rooms.

Mario never said anything to ever disrespect JC Navarro.If anything, he always credited him for helping him grow as a player.Hell, he even mentioned him in his first interview via phone right after being drafted as one of the best players and guy which helped him develop.

I think you are swinging for fences with talk about seniority and leadership.Everybody know who is Navarro and what he means for Barcelona.But it was Hezonja who was interviewed after that game to give his comment about the game not Navarro.It might've sounded wrong,because he is the youngest from them, but he actually said nothing but truth.Effort from some players was not on the same level as their competition and as a result they lost.He knew Barcelona could play much better than they played in that game and he said it.Unless he was supposed to say they were playing good game but lost due other circumstances?

Well, in fact they didn't lose because of a lack of effort. They lost because right now they are simply worse. Anyway, maybe it's a matter of sports culture. Maybe in Croatia is OK if you speak your mind and tell that your team didn't put enough effort. Here in Spain, only veterans, captains, have that privilege and only in extreme cases. You keep those thoughts for the locker room. If you are a youngster and you are interviewed after the game because you played great, you say something like this: "they played a better game, we are going to try to make some adjustments to win the next game. It doesn't matter if I played a good game or not (if he is asked about his great game), it wasn't enough to help the team win."

[Sports Geek]

Where did you see that he disrespected Navarro? Please show me link of an article and I'll believe (don't show that biased Real Madrid newspapers). Okay, you doubt Hezonja is gonna have half the success. Why?

When I said Juan Carlos Navarro I meant the roster. He is a member of the roster so I just threw a heavyweight's name. I doubt he is going to have half the success Navarro had because Juan Carlos is enjoying a more successful career than 99% of the players. He has won every single title but the NBA, including MVP awards.

So you're just emulating SAS with lies? Nice respond man.

You're also saying Mario's not gonna have better career than Navarro because he won every euro title? Well too bad Hezonja's in the NBA and 20 years old with loads of talent and even more work ethics. You can't judge a player at the end of prime and at the start of career. It's just dumb.

No, I'm not lying, I just thought there was some intellingence at the other side. I should have written something more accurate and tell he disrespected the whole roster, because that's what he did, like it or not. My fault.

I highly doubt Croatia can win a single international title, they always have really talented players, but at the end of the day they never win a title. That's why I think he will never be a World Champion, not even an European one, like Navarro is. Maybe time prove me wrong, but this is what NBA draft threads are for, right? Speculations, so you shouldn't tell my opinion is dumb. people compare stars with prospects in these threads every day.

PS: I think you are really young or a too harcore fan, so I'm done with this. You can show your opinions in a different way. No need to call people a liar or tell their comments are dumb. You'll learn that when you get older (Mario too).

[basketballRob]

t minus 20 minutes until Mario's plane arrives at OIA.

[Rosque]

When I said Juan Carlos Navarro I meant the roster. He is a member of the roster so I just threw a heavyweight's name. I doubt he is going to have half the success Navarro had because Juan Carlos is enjoying a more successful career than 99% of the players. He has won every single title but the NBA, including MVP awards.

So you're just emulating SAS with lies? Nice respond man.

You're also saying Mario's not gonna have better career than Navarro because he won every euro title? Well too bad Hezonja's in the NBA and 20 years old with loads of talent and even more work ethics. You can't judge a player at the end of prime and at the start of career. It's just dumb.

No, I'm not lying, I just thought there was some intellingence at the other side. I should have written something more accurate and tell he disrespected the whole roster, because that's what he did, like it or not. My fault.

I highly doubt Croatia can win a single international title, they always have really talented players, but at the end of the day they never win a title. That's why I think he will never be a World Champion, not even an European one, like Navarro is. Maybe time prove me wrong, but this is what NBA draft threads are for, right? Speculations, so you shouldn't tell my opinion is dumb. people compare stars with prospects in these threads every day.

PS: I think you are really young or a too harcore fan, so I'm done with this. You can show your opinions in a different way. No need to call people a liar or tell their comments are dumb. You'll learn that when you get older (Mario too).

Well, where can I see those disrespecting statements by Hezonja? From what I've read he is not disrespectful but rather hard-working, no-nonsense basketball junkie.

Yes because Navarro and Hezonja will have same teammates and same coach in national teams, right? Croatia is coming into a very good national team with Tomić, Bogdanović, Šarić and Hezonja. With Bender, Žižić, Arapović, Mazalin being top talents. I think that's solid company for Hezonja. What made our NT suck more than it should was that dummy Repeša who had rotations worse than anyone in the world. Tomić goes on a run - take him out and put Markota, Bogdanović is only good shot creator on team - let Ukić run the show.

Also I'm old enough. Maybe I am too hardcore of a fan especially since this young man has potential to be best thing that's happened to croatian basketball since Dražen Petrović. But please link me where Mario was disrespectful or talked in a bad way about his teammates?

[Nyce_1]

Mario makes his debut tomorrow at 1pm est during Orlando Summer League.

[Masterfully]

I always get so excited for summer league, then about 5 minutes into the first game I remember how crappy it is. Same goes for preseason NFL.

[joyeuxnoel]

I always get so excited for summer league, then about 5 minutes into the first game I remember how crappy it is. Same goes for preseason NFL.

amen

[HeartBreakKid]

Hezonja hit a game winner in his summer league debut. Not a bad way to get your feet wet.

[TKainZero]

NBA summer debut...

Hits game winning 3 point shot in overtime...


Dude is gonna be amazing...orlando is making the playoffs this year.

This isnt sundita Gaines hitting a random 3 pointer

This is hezonja, and this is what he is going to be doing
And his reaction is great... No freak out, just turns around and walks up court... Like he expected to drill the game winning 3 pointer... Like it was his job.

And besides, this has to feel like a joke to him almost... He was playing championship level basketball a couple weeks ago