Dejan Vasiljevic played his junior basketball with the Melbourne Tigers program before accepting a scholarship to attend Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence and shortly after the University of Miami.
Vasiljevic graduated in 2020 band declared for the NBA Draft but with COVID-19 cancelling any opportunity for NBA teams to see players work out prior to the draft his stock plummeted.
Dejan returned home to Australia and after considering a number of European offers decided to play his first professional season in the NBL with the Sydney Kings.
He is currently averaging 17 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists after 18 games and alongside former teammate at the Melbourne Tigers, Josh Giddey is a top candidate for the NBL's Rookie of the Year award.
Dejan joined Dan Boyce on the podcast to break down his journey so far and his transitioning his game to the NBL.
Dejan's family heritage and how his family had to flee war-torn Serbia (2:00) Junior basketball memories playing for the Melbourne Tigers (6:00) A scholarship to the AIS (8:30) Playing for the University of Miami (10:00) How nominating for the 2020 NBA draft was different under COVID-19 protocols (19:00) NBA goals and why he signed a three-year deal with the Sydney Kings (20:00) The reasons why he chose the Kings over multiple other NBL squads for his rookie season (21:00) Playing for coach Adam Forde and what motivates him on the court (22:30) Thoughts on the NBL Rookie of the Year Award (24:00) Dejan's biggest games in the NBL so far (26:30) What his role is with the Sydney Kings and how it's changed throughout the year (28:00) Why his transition from college to the NBL was an easy one (30:00)Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms.
Listen to our previous interviews with the biggest stars in Australian Basketball, head to Aussiehoopla.com. Check out previous podcasts featuring;
Australian Basketball Legends - Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Brad Newley
Current NBL Stars -Donald Sloan, AJ Ogilvy, Damian Martin, Daniel Kickert, Thomas Abercrombie, Jason Cadee, Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Mitch McCarron, Cam Gliddon, Anthony Drmic
Our Finest Coaching Minds - Brian Goorjian, Barry Barnes, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Phil Smyth, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole, Will Weaver
NBA Stars Past & Present - Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti, Ryan Broekhoff, Doug Overton
The NBL's Greatest Imports - Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Mike Mitchell, Darnell Mee, Isaac Burton, Adonis Jordan, Shawn Redhage, Willie Farley, Al Green, Corey "Homicide" Williams, Andre Moore, Steve Woodberry, Mike Mitchell, Dusty Rychart, Ebi Ere, Doug Overton, Kevin Lisch
And the men who run things - Larry Kestelman, Paul Maley, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chuck Harmison, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner
All that and much more.
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