Es gibt Optionen, aber Mario Hezonja ist der nächste, der in die NBA zurückkehren kann.

Mario Hezonja has confirmed his return to the NBA, fulfilling the option clause in his contract with Real Madrid that allowed him to exit the club under specific conditions. The Croatian forward, who had previously played in the United States from 2015 to 2020, informed Real Madrid that he would pursue this path, marking the end of his tenure with the Spanish giants. The decision was made just days before the expiration of his contractual option, which permitted him to leave for the NBA should he choose to do so. Hezonja signed his initial contract with Real Madrid in 2022, followed by a five-year extension that tied him to the club until 2029. This agreement included a clause allowing him to depart for the NBA, contingent upon his desire to continue his career in the league. During his time with Real, he earned €2.5 million annually and remained among the highest-paid players in the club. Despite finishing the 2023–24 season without a domestic title, he was named MVP of the ACB League and reached the EuroLeague Final, though the outcome was affected by controversial officiating decisions. Throughout the season, there were signs that Real Madrid intended to retain Hezonja, particularly after discussions with former player Sergio Rodríguez, who served as the club’s sporting director. Speculation around Hezonja's potential departure intensified during the latter part of the season, especially after he engaged the American agency Excel, led by Jeff Schwartz, alongside a European representative, Misko Ražnatović. These moves fueled rumors that multiple EuroLeague clubs were interested in signing him, anticipating a possible restructuring of Real’s roster following their failure to win a major trophy. As the season progressed, however, it became increasingly clear that Hezonja was more inclined to stay with Real. The club underwent significant changes, including the appointment of Juan Carlos Sánchez as sporting director and the promotion of Rudy Fernández, a former teammate, to a key role. Real also sought new coaching talent, initially bringing in Sergio Scariolo, who had previously guided Spain to Olympic success. However, Scariolo’s tenure proved unsuccessful, leading to his replacement by Pedro Martínez, the former coach of Valencia. Hezonja publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Scariolo’s departure, highlighting the positive relationship they had developed. His comments suggested optimism about future collaboration, although the transition did not immediately improve team dynamics. In recent weeks, communication between Hezonja and Martínez appeared to have improved slightly, yet reports indicate that the relationship remained strained. Martínez described Hezonja as “one of the more important players” for the team, a statement that contrasted with earlier expectations that Real would build its squad around him. Despite these developments, the likelihood of Hezonja returning to the NBA remains high. Excel, a reputable agency with experience in international transfers, is well-positioned to assist him in securing a spot in the league. Given his extensive experience in the NBA and his proven ability to adapt to different teams, many franchises are likely to consider him as a valuable addition. While the exact terms of his potential return remain unclear, the door to the NBA appears open once again for the Croatian star.