Sasha Vezenkov may be entering his first season in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, but the former EuroLeague MVP will not be subjected to traditional rookie duties, according to De’Aaron Fox.
Vezenkov, 28, signed a three-year contract with the Kings after playing the past five years with Olympiacos in Greece. He also earned the EuroLeague top scorer trophy after averaging 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists on 38.3% shooting from 3-point range last season.
He began playing professional basketball at 16 years old with Aris Thessaloniki. He spent three seasons with Barcelona before joining Olympiacos in 2018. That experience is a central reason the Kings don’t view him as a traditional rookie.
“I said, ‘Bro, he is 28,”‘ Fox said, via James Ham of ESPN 1320. “He has been playing professional ball for like 10 years already. He is a rookie in the NBA but he is not a rookie (as far as) professionals. He doesn’t get rookie duties.”
De’Aaron Fox from day 2 of training camp. Sasha Vezenkov will not have rookie duties this season according to Fox. pic.twitter.com/zCjIClqi3F
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA) October 4, 2023
Vezenkov was born in Cyprus to Bulgarian parents and holds citizenship for each country along with Greece. He has represented Bulgaria in the past in international events, most recently in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers in July.
He will provide the Kings with additional offense in the frontcourt as a three-level scorer. The lefty has established himself as a tremendous floor-spacer with his quick release and ability to shoot on the move.
That ability is precisely what Mike Brown wants to see from him.
One thing that I did like (on the first day of training camp) is he didn’t hesitate. We don’t want him hesitating at all. If he feels like he is open at any time: Let that thing fly. … As good as a shooter as he is, him spreading to the corner is going to flatten the defense. You got a guy like Fox, Davion and Malik (who can) bring the basketball up with their ability to get downhill and touch that paint, it’s going to open up a lot of things just with his presence on the floor.
The addition of Vezenkov figures to be a good fit with the Kings.
He can play with pace, as the team wants to do, and help space the floor for the Kings’ highly-potent offense. He may technically be a rookie this year but he’ll likely play as anything but a first-year player.
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