The basketball star who repeatedly turned down the NBA's bright lights
In short: From Nicosia to the EuroLeague elite, Aleksandar Vezenkov has built a career defined by staying put. Despite being drafted by the Brooklyn Nets and holding lucrative NBA rights, this Bulgarian powerhouse has repeatedly bypassed the American dream to conquer the European stage.
Born in Nicosia to Bulgarian parents, Vezen kov's journey through Cyprus and Greece prepared him for a career of unprecedented dominance in European basketball. A versatile stretch power forward standing 2.06 meters tall, he has become a cornerstone of Olympiacos, securing multiple Greek League titles and EuroLeague championships.
His relationship with the NBA has been a series of near-misses and strategic withdrawals. After being selected 57th overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the Brooklyn Nets, his rights moved through the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings. Even after signing a massive $20 million deal with the Kings in 2023, his path remained non-linear, involving trades to the Toronto Raptors and an eventual buyout in 2024.
The true measure of his impact lies in his individual accolades. Vezenkov is a two-time EuroLeague MVP, earning the title in both the 2022–23 and 2025–26 seasons. His 2022–23 campaign was particularly historic; by winning both the MVP and the Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy, he became only the second player to achieve that feat in a single season since Nando de Colo in 2016.
Beyond the court, his legacy is cemented by his role as a national icon. In 2022, he became only the second basketball player to be named Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year, a distinction not held by a basketball player since Vanya Voynova in 1958.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Aleksandar Vezenkov
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