AFTER departing the National Basketball League (NBL) last season, explosive guard Dejan Vasiljevic has returned to Australian shores, but will be suiting up for a different side this time around.
After winning two championships with the Sydney Kings in the past couple of years, Vasiljevic has agreed to join the Adelaide 36ers for the upcoming season. The Kings initially had first right of refusal, but declined to use that power, and the signing was made official today.
After making his name in the NBL for the Kings (he was undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft), Vasiljevic attempted to continue his NBA dream. After suiting up for the Washington Wizards in the NBA Summer League, the guard was offered an Exhibit-10 contract with the team.
However, upon the signing of other players, he opted to depart the Wizards, realising he would be playing in the G-League instead. Vasiljevic has now returned to the NBL, and has signed with the 36ers for the remainder of the season.
The 36ers have been yearning for some more offence to start the year after losing some key players over the offseason, and Vasiljevic directly addresses that concern. The guard is extremely aggressive with ball in hand, capable of putting his team on his back and scoring at all three levels.
He showed exactly what he is capable of in the 2021/22 NBL finals, where he proved matchwinning in the deciding game. Catching fire from behind the arc, Vasiljevic was just about unstoppable in the biggest of games.
He does his best work with ball in hand, able to create his own shot and use his pace to burst past the defender and get to the hoop. Although he is a high-usage player, Vasiljevic can still contribute off the ball, working hard to get into space and knock down catch and shoot scenarios.
Vasiljevic should slot into the starting lineup, and be one of the focal points of the team’s offence, able to get greater offensive opportunities than at the Kings. Having stated his desire to participate in the Olympics over a number of years, a stint at the 36ers may give the guard the recognition he needs to break into the Boomers squad.
It is a season-defining signing for both the 36ers and Vasiljevic, with both parties set to benefit from the new addition.
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