Partizan Belgrade recently received lucrative buyout offers for Isaac Bonga from four unnamed NBA teams, according to Pedrag Saric of Meridian Sport (hat tip to Eurohoops). However, the Serbian club rejected those offers for the German forward, who played in the NBA from 2018-22, because Partizan didn’t want to lose its most consistent player.
Bonga is still just 26 years old and could receive NBA interest again this summer, assuming he stays with the Belgrade-based team for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. In 41 total games (26.3 minutes per contest) this season, Bonga has averaged 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 steal on .505/.312/.830 shooting.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Tanking has come under increased scrutiny this season, in part because of the perceived strength of the 2026 draft class. “This draft has a chance to be legendary,” one NBA executive told Forbes contributor Adam Zagoria. How can the league combat teams trying to intentionally lose to boost their lottery odds? Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports lays out his idea to address the tanking issue.
- While it doesn’t technically break any NBA rules, Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s investment in prediction market company Kalshi isn’t a great look for the league, says Dan Wetzel of ESPN.com.
- Speaking to the media on Saturday, Antetokounmpo said he would the welcome opportunity to be an owner in the NBA’s proposed European league, per Javier Molero of Eurohoops. “Being an owner? 100%,” the two-time MVP said. “If there’s an opportunity that comes across my desk to be an owner in sports, anything, I would consider it 100%. In the real NBA, I don’t know if I have that type of money. If I ever come into a position where I’m able to make that decision and it won’t affect my lifestyle, my family’s lifestyle, and it won’t be too risky for my wealth and network, I will consider doing it.”
Maybe the solution to tanking is just give all the teams who miss the playoffs a 1/14 chance of getting the top pick, a 1/13 chance of getting the #2 pick, etc.
They don’t really care about tanking. It’s all about engagement. Now that the trade deadline is done it’s just gives all the talking heads something to talk about. Tanking has been going on since the inception of the lottery.
Not only is that investment likely to be problematic for Giannis, but he evidently just qualified his desire to stay a Buck with an “as of now…” Oy 🤦♂️
So he’s no longer hiding his plausible deniability but openly suggesting that his heart could change. I know it’s partially not his fault because he’s constantly being asked this question and it’s obvious that an all time great player like him will not stay with a team sinking out of the playoffs for long.
How long is Bonga under contract for?