By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
Mario Hezonja has officially joined the Portland Trail Blazers, the team confirmed. The 24-year-old Croatian will wear the No. 44 jersey as did another Croatian player in Drazen Petrovic during his stint with the team back in 1989-91.
Per the Portland Trail Blazers:
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent forward Mario Hezonja, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.
Hezonja (heh-ZONE-yuh), 24, holds career averages of 7.3 points (41.7% FG, 32.1% 3-PT, 81.1% FT), 3.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 18.9 minutes in 277 games (65 starts) over four seasons with Orlando and New York.
“Mario is a prodigiously talented player with a high ceiling and a bright future,” said Olshey. “He will have a chance to contribute immediately while we work to accelerate his development”.
Selected by the Magic with the fifth overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, Hezonja (6-8, 225) spent three seasons in Orlando before playing the 2018-19 season in New York. In 58 appearances (24 starts) for the Knicks last season, Hezonja averaged 8.8 points (41.2% FG, 27.6% 3-PT, 76.3% FT), 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.98 steals and 20.8 minutes
A Croatian national, Hezonja played for FC Barcelona before entering the 2015 NBA Draft.
He will wear No. 44 for the Trail Blazers.