Sasha Vezenkov is in his first season in the NBA after spending the past five years with Olympiacos in Greece, and the former EuroLeague MVP looks to be settling in with the Sacramento Kings.
On a night the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox returned after a five-game absence, the team received a strong effort from Vezenkov off the bench. He produced 11 points and two rebounds in 17 minutes in a 132-120 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Vezenkov scored eight points in the first quarter and connected on three of his five 3-point attempts in the game. He once again provided great floor spacing for the team and forced the Cavaliers to stay on him through his time on the court.
Kings coach Mike Brown was pleased with the effort.
Sasha has a great feel for the game of basketball on both ends. He hit a couple of big shots tonight. He should have hit his third and fourth one, (but) it kind of went in and bounced out. To have a guy like that on the floor, it gives everybody else a lot of room.
It makes teams have to think twice about rotating to somebody else so guys can get wide-open shots when they’re on the floor just because of his presence. On top of that, he does a lot of little things. … The more he plays, it seems like the better he has gotten for us.
Vezenkov is averaging 6.3 points and two rebounds on 36.7% shooting from 3-point range in eight appearances. He has been a key player in the second unit for Brown and has also provided size and rebounding with that group.
VEZZY LIGHTS THE BEAM! 🔦🟣 pic.twitter.com/Y3OfZJoy1l
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) November 14, 2023
The on-court transition to the NBA for Vezenkov appears to be going mostly well in the early going. Brown has stated in the past that mastering the defensive side of the ball will be key to him playing a large role, and he is making strides in that area each night.
He still looks to be settling in with the off-court move from Europe to the United States, but his teammates can see him beginning to adjust to that challenge, as well.
“I think he is having more fun,” said Fox, who finished with 28 points. “I feel like coming over, obviously, not knowing anybody, and I think he came by himself right now. It is a different transition, and I feel like it is a difficult transition that, probably, most of us have never had to do.
“It is different from moving state to state; it isn’t the same as moving across the ocean. I feel like he is starting to enjoy himself. Obviously, he is making shots, and I feel like that kind of takes a weight off your back, and you can see it. He is having joy playing basketball right now.”
Vezenkov signed a three-year contract with the Kings this offseason after spending the last five years in Greece. He was named the MVP last season after averaging 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists on 38.3% shooting from 3-point range.
The 28-year-old will have growing pains with the transition to the NBA, but he should be in store to have a productive year if he can continue to improve each game.
“It is a different game, different rules and a different mentality,” Vezenkov said at shootaround on Monday. “But I think I can handle the team, and that’s why I’m here. I will continue working, do my thing and, hopefully, we’ll continue winning.”
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