Nemanja Bjelica officially returns to Fenerbahce

2022-08-09 11:08
Credit: Rocky Widner/GettyImages/BasketNews illustration
Credit Rocky Widner/GettyImages/BasketNews illustration

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul officially announced a two-year deal with Nemanja Bjelica.

Despite the interest from the NBA and other suitors from Europe, Bjelica chose to return to Fenerbahce after 7 years.

The 34-year-old Serbian is a freshly baked NBA champion.

Nemanja Bjelica

Nemanja  Bjelica
Position: PF
Age: 34
Height: 209 cm
Weight: 106 kg
Birth place: Belgrade, Serbia

Although he had a limited role in offense, Bjelica was vital for the Golden State Warriors on the defensive end, playing in 71 regular-season games and averaging 6.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per contest.

Prior to his long tenure in the NBA, Bjelica established his name in Europe. He became the EuroLeague regular-season MVP and earned the All-EuroLeague First Team selection in 2015 when averaged 12.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists over 29 games for Fenerbahce.

He navigated his team to the EuroLeague Final Four but Fener finished fourth.

During his two years in Istanbul (2013-15), Bjelica became the Turkish League champion in 2014.

For his career across the Atlantic, Nemanja Bjelica owns NBA averages of 7.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 449 appearances between the Minnesota Timberwolves (2015-18), Sacramento Kings (2018-21), Miami Heat (2021), and Warriors (2021-22).

For more than a decade Bjelica has also been a member of the Serbian national team with which he won silver medals at EuroBasket 2009 and the World Cup in 2014.

Current roster

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Position Player Status
PG Scottie Wilbekin (story) Signed until 2025
PG Ismet Akpinar (story) Signed until 2023
PG Carsen Edwards (story)
Signed until 2023
SG Melih Mahmutoglu (story) Signed until 2024
SG Sehmus Hazer Signed until 2024
SF Marko Guduric Signed until 2023
SF Dyshawn Pierre Signed until 2023 +1
SF/PF Metecan Birsen Signed until 2023 + 1
SF/PF Nigel Hayes-Davis (story) Signed until 2023
PF Nemanja Bjelica (story) Signed until 2024
PF/C Samet Geyik (story) Signed until 2023
C Devin Booker Signed until 2023
C Johnathan Motley (story) Signed until 2024
C Tonye Jekiri (story) Signed until 2023 +1
Coach Dimitris Itoudis (story)
Expired contract Aleksandar Djordjevic (will not return), Pierria Henry (will not return), Nando De Colo (will not return), Tarik Biberovic, Danilo Barthel (will not return), Jan Vesely (will not return), Ahmet Duverioglu (will not return), Jehyve Floyd (will not return), Markel Starks (will not return), Achille Polonara (will not return)
Rumored to leave  
Interested Nick Calathes (story)

See all the EuroLeague transfer market news here.



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