By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After a season in Crvena Zvezda, Serbian big man Filip Petrusev could be heading to the NBA and taking his spot on the roster of the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Sixers coach Nick Nurse revealed his plans for the Serbian big man in his latest statement on Tyrese Maxey’s podcast Maxey on the Mic.
“We’re getting our young guys a lot of minutes. Jaden Springer and Lou King, and some of these guys, Filip, who’s going to be on the roster this year… but we’re also tactically trying to build,” Nurse said.
Filip Petrusev has been representing the Philadelphia 76ers this month in the Summer League, averaging 10.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Per Eurohoops sources, the Sixers intend to offer him a contract, probably for the next two seasons.
The 23-years old big man had his best season yet as a member of Crvena Zvezda, averaging 10.7 ppg and 5.2 rpg.
Born on October 15, 2000, Petrusev gained recognition during his college basketball career at Gonzaga University in the United States. He played for the Gonzaga Bulldogs from 2018 to 2020.
In his sophomore season (2019-2020), he emerged as a key player for the Bulldogs and was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year. Petrusev averaged 17.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game that season, showcasing his scoring ability and versatility in the paint.
After his sophomore year, Petrusev decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility and declared for the 2020 NBA Draft. However, he ultimately decided to withdraw from the draft and pursue a professional career overseas.
He signed a multi-year contract with Mega and then spent the 2020-21 season in the EuroLeague champions roster, Anadolu Efes, having limited contribution. He was drafted at no.50 by the Sixers, spend one more season in Europe, and is now considered ready for the jump to the NBA.