Nemanja Bjelica

Nemanja Bjelica
Bjelica with Fenerbahçe in 2022
Personal information
Born (1988-05-09) 9 May 1988[1]
Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia[1]
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight234 lb (106 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2010: 2nd round, 35th overall pick
Drafted byWashington Wizards
Playing career2007–2023
PositionPower forward/small forward
Number8, 44, 70, 88
Career history
2007–2008Traiskirchen Lions
2008–2010Crvena zvezda
2010–2013Baskonia
2013–2015Fenerbahçe
2015–2018Minnesota Timberwolves
2018–2021Sacramento Kings
2021Miami Heat
2021–2022Golden State Warriors
2022–2023Fenerbahçe
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com 
Stats at Basketball Reference 
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Serbia
FIBA World Cup
Silver medal – second place2014 SpainTeam
EuroBasket
Silver medal – second place2009 PolandTeam
Universiade
Gold medal – first place2009 BelgradeTeam
Bjelica with Serbia in August 2015.

Nemanja Bjelica (Serbian: Немања Бјелица, pronounced [němaɲa bjělitsa]; born 9 May 1988)[1] is a Serbian executive and former professional basketball player who most recently became sporting director for Bahçeşehir Koleji of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He represented the senior Serbian national team in international competition. Bjelica was an All-Euroleague First Team selection as well as the Euroleague MVP in 2015. Bjelica started his NBA career as a 27-year-old rookie when he signed in 2015 and played for the Minnesota Timberwolves for three seasons before signing with the Sacramento Kings in the 2018 offseason. In 2021, he was traded to the Miami Heat before signing with the Golden State Warriors during the offseason. With the Warriors, he won an NBA championship in 2022.

Club career

Early career (2007–2010)

Bjelica playing for Crvena zvezda

Bjelica began playing basketball at Aca Janjić basketball school, before joining the youth system of KK Partizan.[2] He began his professional career in the 2007–08 season with the Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions of the Austrian League, earning 8.5 points in 26 matches on average.[3]

After one season abroad, Bjelica returned to the Serbian team Crvena zvezda and spent two successful seasons there under head coach Svetislav Pešić. During the 2008–09 season, he made breakthroughs, and earned a place in the first lineup. He was particularly noted for his performance during the EuroCup, for his outside shooting. Later in his career, Bjelica cited coach Pešić as one of the main reasons for his improvement as a player.[4] Coach Pešić trusted Bjelica with the ball, and gave the 6"10 Bjelica a primary ball handler role on several occasions, which helped to develop Bjelica as a playmaker. Bjelica was drafted by the Washington Wizards with the 35th pick of the 2010 NBA draft. His draft rights were then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.[5]

In August 2010, Bjelica signed a five-year contract with Spanish club Saski Baskonia.[6]

Fenerbahçe (2013–2015)

On 22 July 2013, Bjelica signed a three-year contract with the Turkish club Fenerbahçe Ülker, which was led by one of Europe's great coaches, Željko Obradović.[7][8] He cited Obradović as the main reason why he didn't go to the NBA instead.[9] In the 2013–14 season, he immediately became one of the key players of Fenerbahçe Ülker, earning career highs of 10.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game over 24 EuroLeague games on average.

The following season, on 30 March 2015, Bjelica was named EuroLeague MVP of the Month for March, his first such monthly award in his career. Over four matches played in March, he earned 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block per match on average.[10] In May 2015, he was chosen to the All-EuroLeague First Team, for his performances over the season.[11] Eventually, Bjelica was named EuroLeague MVP of the season.[12] Fenerbahçe also advanced to the EuroLeague Final Four for the first time in the team's history.[13] However, on 15 May, they lost in the semifinal against Real Madrid, by a score of 87–96.[14] Eventually, Fenerbahçe finished fourth place after losing in the third-place play-off against CSKA Moscow, by a score of 80–86.[15] Bjelica had his best season since he signed for the club, earning a career-high 12.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals on average per match. However, Fenerbahçe, finished the season without winning any trophy, after also losing in the semi-final series of the Turkish League championship, againstthe eventual league champions Pınar Karşıyaka. On 1 July, Bjelica ended his contract with Fenerbahçe to play in the NBA.[16]

Minnesota Timberwolves (2015–2018)

On 14 July 2015, Bjelica signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves.[17] He made his debut for the Timberwolves in their season opener on 28 October, recording eight points and five rebounds in a 112–111 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.[18] On 7 November, Bjelica had a season-best game with 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block against the Chicago Bulls. On 7 April 2016, he scored a season-high 18 points against the Sacramento Kings. Four days later, he recorded 11 points and a season-high 14 rebounds against the Houston Rockets.[19]

On 13 November 2016, Bjelica made his first career start and scored a career-high 24 points in a 125–99 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.[20] On 16 March 2017, he was ruled out for the rest of the 2016–17 season due to a left foot injury.[21] He underwent surgery five days later to repair a fractured navicular bone in his left foot.[22] Bjelica missed 15 matches, spanning November and December of the 2017–18 season with a sprained left foot.[23] On 8 March 2018, he scored a career-high 30 points on 11-for-16 shooting, including 6 for 9 from 3-point range, in a 117–109 loss to the Boston Celtics. He also had 12 rebounds to record his first 20–10 game in the NBA.[24]

Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat (2018–2021)

On 21 July 2018, just days after backing out of a contract with the Philadelphia 76ers with the intention of returning to Europe, Bjelica signed a three-year, $20.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings.[25][26][27] On 25 March 2021, Bjelica was traded to the Miami Heat in exchange for Maurice Harkless and Chris Silva.[28]

Golden State Warriors (2021–2022)

On 6 August 2021, Bjelica signed with the Golden State Warriors.[29] He made his debut for the Warriors in their season opener on 19 October 2021, recording a double-double off the bench with 15 points and 11 rebounds in a 121–114 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.[30][31] He became the first player to post a double-double off the bench in his Warriors debut since Sam Williams (16 points, 12 rebounds) on 30 October 1981 at Denver.[32] During the 2022 NBA Finals, Bjelica held Celtics star Jayson Tatum to 0-6 shooting and 4 turnovers en route to his first NBA championship.[33] He became the fourth NBA player from Serbia who won the championship, joining Darko Miličić, Peja Stojaković, and Ognjen Kuzmić.[34]

Later career and retirement (2022–2024)

On 9 August 2022, Bjelica re-signed for Fenerbahçe on a two-year contract, where he was named the EuroLeague MVP of the 2014-15 season.[35] Upon missing much of the season due to a calf injury, Bjelica finally made his season debut on 3 March 2023. On 12 September 2023, he was released by Fenerbahçe.[36] Hours after being released by Fenerbahçe, he returned to Serbia, signed a contract with Crvena zvezda.[36] On 9 October 2023, after getting caught in a fight with Crvena zvezda head coach Duško Ivanović, Bjelica allegedly has parted ways with his hometown club.[37] On 23 March 2024, Bjelica officially announced his retirement from professional basketball.[38]

National team career

Bjelica taking on Israel as part of the gold medal-winning Serbian university team at the 2009 Summer Universiade in Belgrade.

Bjelica was a member of the Serbia national basketball team at the EuroBasket 2015.[39] In Serbia's opening match, an 80–70 victory against Spain, he was Serbia's key player, posting 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. The following day, he made a game-winning shot against Germany. In the last match of the group phase, he scored 19 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and had four assists against Italy. Serbia dominated in the tournament's toughest group, Group B, with a 5–0 record, and then eliminated Finland and the Czech Republic in the round of 16 and quarterfinal games, respectively. However, they were stopped in the semifinal game by Lithuania, by a score of 67–64,[40] and eventually lost against the host team, France, in the bronze-medal game, by a score of 81–68.[41] Being one of the team's leaders, along with Miloš Teodosić and Miroslav Raduljica, Bjelica earned 13.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per match on average, on 56.1% shooting from the field and 37.5% shooting from behind the three-point line.[42]

At the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the national team of Serbia was dubbed as favorite to win the trophy,[43] but was eventually upset in the quarterfinals by Argentina.[44] With wins over the United States and Czech Republic, it finished in fifth place.[45][46] Bjelica's statistics suggest he was the third-best player on the team behind Bogdanović and Jokić, earning 10.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists over seven matches in average, while shooting 42.9% from the field.

Post-playing career

In April 2024, Bahçeşehir Koleji appointed Bjelica as the club's new head of basketball operations for the 2024–25 season.[47]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship

NBA

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015–16 Minnesota 60017.9.468.384.7273.51.4.4.45.1
2016–17 Minnesota 65118.3.424.316.7383.81.2.6.36.2
2017–18 Minnesota 672120.5.461.415.8004.11.3.7.26.8
2018–19 Sacramento 777023.2.479.401.7615.81.9.7.79.6
2019–20 Sacramento 726727.9.481.419.8216.42.8.9.611.5
2020–21 Sacramento 26116.9.460.293.7623.81.9.3.17.2
Miami 11214.2.435.370.5562.51.8.6.35.0
2021–22† Golden State 71016.1.468.362.7284.12.2.6.46.1
Career 44916220.4.466.384.7594.61.8.6.47.6

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018 Minnesota 509.4.438.517.7143.0.6.6.04.6
2021 Miami 2015.0.455.500.6672.51.01.0.59.0
2022† Golden State 15010.0.529.375.5712.11.1.3.12.9
Career 22010.3.492.478.6502.31.0.4.13.8

EuroLeague

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2010–11 Baskonia 1329.0.250.222.5001.7.5.2—1.20.5
2011–12 10513.9.563.474.7502.11.01.3.34.86.2
2012–13 26923.1.459.310.7414.81.31.0.39.910.1
2013–14 Fenerbahçe 241825.1.474.416.8466.12.21.0.410.413.6
2014–15 292027.8.500.351.6848.51.91.3.712.118.3
2022–23 708.4.400.167.4002.1.9.3.12.73.1
Career 1095421.3.474.355.7135.31.51.0.48.611.1

Personal life

Bjelica was brought up in the New Belgrade Blocks.[48] He married in June 2012 and has two children.[49][50] Apart from his native Serbian, Bjelica speaks English fluently.[50]

On 5 February 2024, Bjelica was threatened with scissors in Belgrade, Serbia. In the incident, the man told Bjelica: "I would take your family, your children, your wife, and you", and also threatened to stab him with the scissors.[51]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nemanja Bjelica: Željkov poziv se ne odbija". Kurir (in Serbian). 25 July 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Bjelica za Mondo: Imam glavu plejmejkera". mondo.rs (in Serbian). 20 November 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  3. ↑ "Nemanja Bjelica". Basketball Liga (in German). Archived from the original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  4. ↑ "Nemanja Bjelica za Telegraf: Da nije bilo Pešića, ostao bih prosečno krilo (Video)". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). 6 January 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Minnesota Acquires Draft Rights to Lazar Hayward". NBA. 25 June 2010. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  6. ↑ "Caja Laboral lands Nemanja Bjelica". Euroleague.net. 2 August 2010. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "Fenerbahce will sign Nemanja Bjelica to a three-year deal". Sportando.net. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Bjelica kod Obradovića u Feneru". B92 (in Serbian). 22 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "Bjelica: Željko Obradović i ja, nestvarno!". Večernje novosti (in Serbian). 23 July 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "bwin MVP for March: Nemanja Bjelica, Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul". Euroleague. 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "All-Euroleague First and Second Teams announced". Euroleague. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "2014-15 bwin MVP: Nemanja Bjelica, Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul". Euroleague. 14 May 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  13. ↑ "Fenerbahce for the first time in the Final Four". Eurohoops. 20 April 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  14. ↑ "Real Madrid heads to third straight final after beating Fenerbahce". EuroBasket. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  15. ↑ "CSKA Moscow beats Fenerbahce in third-place game". Euroleague. 17 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  16. ↑ "Fenerbahce opts out of Nemanja Bjelica's contract". Sportando. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  17. ↑ "Timberwolves Sign Reigning Euroleague Most Valuable Player Nemanja Bjelica". NBA. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  18. ↑ "Wolves edge Lakers 112-111 in first game since Flip's death". NBA. 28 October 2015. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Nemanja Bjelica 2015-16 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  20. ↑ "Wiggins scores 47 to lead Timberwolves over Lakers, 125-99". ESPN. 13 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  21. ↑ "Nemanja Bjelica Injury Update". NBA. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  22. ↑ "Nemanja Bjelica Injury Update". 21 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  23. ↑ "Timberwolves beat Lakers 121-104 for first Christmas win". ESPN. 25 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  24. ↑ "Irving returns to carry Celtics past Timberwolves 117-109". ESPN. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  25. ↑ "Kings Sign Nemanja Bjelica". ESPN. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  26. ↑ "Nemanja Bjelica staying in the U.S. after all, reaches deal with Kings". ESPN. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  27. ↑ "Nemanja Bjelica won't sign with 76ers, plans to stay in Europe". ESPN. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018. On 9 December 2019, Bjelica drilled a buzzer beating 3-pointer to lift the Kings to a road 119-118 victory against the Houston Rockets,. On 13 January 2020, he set career highs with 34 points and 8 3-pointers in a 114-112 loss to the Orlando Magic.
  28. ↑ "HEAT Acquire Nemanja Bjelica". NBA. 25 March 2021.
  29. ↑ "Warriors Sign Free Agent Forward Nemanja Bjelica". NBA.com. 6 August 2021.
  30. ↑ "Curry, Warriors stun James, Lakers 121-114 in opener". NBA. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  31. ↑ "Skoro savršeno veče Nemanje Bjelice: Dabl-dablom režirao preokret za pobedu u Gradu anđela". mozzartsport.com. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  32. ↑ "Bjelica zabeležio debi kakav nije viđen 40 godina". Mozzart Sport (in Serbian). 20 October 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  33. ↑ @statmuse (14 June 2022). "Register" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 June 2022 – via Twitter.
  34. ↑ "Nemanja Bjelica četvrti Srbin sa NBA prstenom". Mozzart Sport. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  35. ↑ "Fenerbahçe Beko, Nemanja Bjelica Transferini Resmen Açıkladı!" [Fenerbahçe officially announced Nemanja Bjelica's transfer]. Eurohoops (in Turkish). 9 August 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  36. 1 2 Askounis, Johnny (12 September 2023). "Nemanja Bjelica parts ways with Fenerbahce and reunites with Crvena Zvezda". Eurohoops. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  37. ↑ "Nemanja Bjelica otisao iz Crvene zvezde zbog sukoba sa Duskom Ivanovicem". Kurir (in Serbian). 10 October 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  38. ↑ Askounis, Johnny (23 March 2024). "Nemanja Bjelica calls it a day: "Thank you basketball"". EuroHoops.net. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  39. ↑ "Ambitious Serbia Unveil Powerful 12-man Squad". Eurobasket 2015. 2 September 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  40. ↑ "Lithuania End Serbia Streak, Return to the Final". Eurobasket 2015. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  41. ↑ "France Reward Home Support with Bronze". eurobasket2015.org. 20 September 2015. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  42. ↑ "Player profile: Nemanja Bjelica". eurobasket2015.org. FIBA Europe. Retrieved 20 September 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  43. ↑ Curkovic, Igor (28 August 2019). "FIBA Basketball World Cup Power Rankings, Volume 3". FIBA. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  44. ↑ "Argentina upsets Olympic silver medalist Serbia in FIBA World Cup quarterfinals". NBC Sports. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  45. ↑ "Serbia defeats USA in FIBA World Cup consolation round play". NBA. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  46. ↑ "Bogdanović ponovo briljirao – Srbiji peto mesto u Kini". B92 (in Serbian). 14 September 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  47. ↑ "Nemanja Bjelica preuzima direktorsku fotelju Bahčešehira: Turski klub puno očekuje od "profesora"". Arena Sport (in Serbian). 21 April 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  48. ↑ "Sedam Kratkij Pitanja na Nemanju Bjelicu". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  49. ↑ "Crkveno venčanje Mirjane i Nemanje Bjelice". Večernje novosti (in Serbian). 22 June 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  50. 1 2 Krawczynski, Jon (17 November 2017). "How Nemanja Bjelica and family found footing in a new league and a new land". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  51. ↑ "Nemanja Bjelica threatened with scissors: "I'll take your family"". Eurohoops. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
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