1. Nemanja Bjelica represented the senior Serbian national team in international competition.
27 Facts About Nemanja Bjelica
1. 2.
Nemanja Bjelica started his NBA career as a 27-year-old rookie when he signed in 2015 and played for the Minnesota Timberwolves for three seasons before signing with the Sacramento Kings in the 2018 offseason.
3.
Nemanja Bjelica began playing basketball at Aca Janjic basketball school, before joining the youth system of KK Partizan.
4.
Nemanja Bjelica was particularly noted for his performance during the EuroCup, for his outside shooting.
5.
Later in his career, Nemanja Bjelica cited coach Pesic as one of the main reasons for his improvement as a player.
6.
Nemanja Bjelica was drafted by the Washington Wizards with the 35th pick of the 2010 NBA draft.
7.
On 22 July 2013, Nemanja Bjelica signed a three-year deal with the Turkish team Fenerbahce Ulker, which was led by one of Europe's great coaches, Zeljko Obradovic.
8.
Nemanja Bjelica cited Obradovic as the main reason why he didn't go to the NBA instead.
9.
Nemanja Bjelica had his best season since coming to the club, averaging a career-high 12.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
10.
On 1 July 2015, Nemanja Bjelica opted out of his contract with Fenerbahce in order to play in the NBA.
11.
On 14 July 2015, Nemanja Bjelica signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
12.
Nemanja Bjelica underwent surgery five days later to repair a fractured navicular bone in his left foot.
13.
On 21 July 2018, just days after backing out of a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers with the intention of returning to Europe, Nemanja Bjelica signed a three-year, $20.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings.
14.
On 25 March 2021, Nemanja Bjelica was traded to the Miami Heat in exchange for Maurice Harkless and Chris Silva.
15.
On 6 August 2021, Nemanja Bjelica signed with the Golden State Warriors.
16.
Nemanja Bjelica became the first player to post a double-double off the bench in his Warriors debut since Sam Williams on 30 October 1981 at Denver.
17.
Nemanja Bjelica became the fourth NBA player from Serbia who won the championship, joining Darko Milicic, Peja Stojakovic, and Ognjen Kuzmic.
18.
Nemanja Bjelica made his season debut on 3 March 2023, after missing much of the season due to a calf injury.
19.
Hours after being released by Fenerbahce, Nemanja Bjelica signed a contract with Crvena zvezda.
20.
On 9 October 2023, it was announced that Nemanja Bjelica has allegedly parted ways with his home town team, after getting caught in a fight with Crvena zvezda head coach Dusko Ivanovic.
21.
On 23 March 2024, Nemanja Bjelica officially announced his retirement from professional basketball.
22.
Nemanja Bjelica played with the senior Serbian national basketball team that won the silver medal at the EuroBasket 2009.
23.
Nemanja Bjelica was capped for the national team of Serbia at the EuroBasket 2011, in Lithuania, where Serbia finished eighth.
24.
Nemanja Bjelica ended the tournament with averages of 11.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
25.
Nemanja Bjelica was a member of the team that represented Serbia at the EuroBasket 2015.
26.
Nemanja Bjelica married in June 2012 and has a daughter.
27.
On 5 February 2024, Nemanja Bjelica was threatened with scissors in Belgrade, Serbia.