Filip Petrusev Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Filip Petrusev Hoping For NBA Return

April 19th, 2025 at 6:12pm CST by Arthur Hill

Filip Petrusev barely saw any game action during his first NBA stint, but he believes things will be different if he gets another opportunity. The 25-year-old center talked about coming back to the league in an interview with Serbian media outlet Sportski Zurnal, according to Eurohoops.

“I would like to return to the NBA as soon as possible,” Petrusev said. “It is always better, for everyone and for me in particular, to go there early than to try to do it in my last years of career. I was not lucky in Philadelphia. As soon as I started playing, I was traded, and everything fell apart. Now I have regained my self-confidence, and I believe that I deserve a second chance!”

The Sixers selected Petrusev with the 50th pick in the 2021 draft, but he remained in Europe until the summer of 2023. He appeared in just one game with Philadelphia, playing only three minutes, before being included in the early-season trade that sent James Harden to the Clippers.

L.A. moved him on to Sacramento on the same day, and he made brief appearances in two games with the Kings before being waived about three weeks later.

Petrusev returned to Europe on a three-year contract with Olympiacos that still has one season remaining. He’s currently on loan to Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade, where he’s averaging 14.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

It sounds like he’ll be exploring another NBA opportunity this summer, as he said in the interview, “It is my great desire to return to the NBA and for this reason all the contracts I sign include an NBA out clause.”

And-Ones: International Players, Salaries, Petrusev, 2025 RFAs

October 23rd, 2024 at 9:11pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The NBA’s 30 opening night rosters boast 125 internationally-born players, which ties a league record, per an NBA press release. Those 125 players hail from 43 different nations, which also ties a league record. Canada leads the way among those 43 nations for the 11th straight year, with 21 NBA players. France, Australia, Germany and Serbia round out the top-five most-represented international countries in the NBA, with 14, 13, eight and six players, respectively.

The Thunder and Pelicans have seven international players apiece, the most such tally this year.

The three most recent league Most Valuable Players are all international stars: three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, 2023 winner Joel Embiid, and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Last year’s runner-up to Jokic for MVP honors was Canadian point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Slovenian-born guard Luka Doncic is a five-time All-NBA First Teamer, while three-time All-Star center Domantas Sabonis is Lithuanian.

There’s more from around the basketball world:

With the NBA’s 2024/25 season tipping off this week, Keith Smith of Spotrac takes a look at where all 30 NBA clubs stand relative to this year’s salary cap and luxury tax aprons, ranging from the Suns ($31.5MM over the second apron) to the Pistons ($10.2MM under the cap).
While it didn’t happen when originally reported in September, NBA center/forward Filip Petrusev is now returning to Serbian club KK Crvena Zvezda, on a loan out from current club Olympiacos BC, Crvena Zvezda has announced (Twitter link). In a statement, agent Misko Raznatovic thanked Olympiacos and its owners for their flexibility with Petrusev, who sought a more significant role (via Twitter). The 6’11” big man was selected with the No. 50 pick in 2021. He didn’t play in the NBA until 2023/24, which he split between Philadelphia and the Kings before being waived and returning to Europe.
Not every talented young player entering the final year of a rookie scale contract agreed to an extension with his team by the October 21 deadline. Accordingly, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report previews the 2025 restricted free agent class, with Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga topping Pincus’ list of the best RFAs hitting the market next summer.

International Notes: Baynes, Vezenkov, Taylor, Petrusev, Djurisic

September 21st, 2024 at 9:32am CST by Dana Gauruder

Former NBA center Aron Baynes isn’t ready to end his career. He told ESPN’s Olgun Uluc he’s still shopping for an opportunity in Australia’s National Basketball League.

“My body feels good. I love playing the game,” he said. “It’s just, right now, I’m focused on my family and being there with my kids. Just being dad right now. Just enjoying not having to be anywhere at any particular time, apart from school drop off and school pickup. Right now, nothing labeled; just, body feels really good, though, I’m moving well. We’ll just see how it goes.”

Baynes, 37, played with the Brisbane Bullets last season, averaging 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He spent nine seasons in the NBA from 2012-21, playing for the Spurs, Pistons, Celtics, Suns, and Raptors during that time.

We have more from the international basketball world:

Sasha Vezenkov reiterated that he wanted to return to Europe because he was looking for a bigger role than he had in the NBA. “It gives you joy when you return to a familiar environment where you are loved,” he said, per Vangelis Papadimitriou of Eurohoops.net. “I prefer to be in a competitive environment, to fight for titles, and to feel important. I didn’t know if I would have an opportunity in the NBA like the one I gave myself. This is what I wanted to do, and I wanted to do it with Olympiacos. This is my home.” Vezenkov, who spent a single season in Sacramento, signed a five-year contract with Olympiacos after giving up over $6.6MM in guaranteed salary with the Raptors.
Former NBA guard Isaiah Taylor has signed with the Dubai Basketball Club, the team tweets (hat tip to Sportando). Taylor appeared in 67 games for the Hawks in 2017/18. Taylor has played in Israel, Spain, Turkey, Lithuania and China in recent seasons.
Crvena Zvezda’s president Nebojsa Covic confirmed that Olympiacos will not loan Filip Petrusev to his team this season, according to Eurohoops.net. He also said the team wasn’t signing Nikola Djurisic, a Hawks second-round draft pick in June who is recovering from foot surgery. “During the season, there could be departures or arrivals, which we currently don’t have planned. With that, I’m putting an end to the soap opera surrounding Petrusev and Djurisic, who is in America,” Covic said. “Petrusev is a player for Olympiacos.”

International Notes: Stojakovic, Miller, Samanic, Petrusev, Wright

September 15th, 2024 at 9:08am CST by Arthur Hill

Former NBA stars Peja Stojakovic and Reggie Miller are among the new members of the FIBA Hall of Fame, according to Eurohoops. The Class of 2024 was inducted Saturday at a ceremony in Singapore on the night before the FIBA Intercontinental Cup Final.

Stojakovic played for five teams during his 12 NBA seasons, but he’s best known for his time with the Kings in the early 2000s. The three-time All-Star won a championship with Dallas in 2011 and is also a member of the Greek Hall of Fame. Miller is one of the best shooters in NBA history and was named to the league’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

“If I had to say something to the young kids who are starting to play basketball, it’s this: whatever you are, no matter the circumstances you are in, don’t be discouraged,” Stojakovic told the crowd. “If you really love the game, keep working hard because probably someone is watching.”

The other new Hall of Fame members are Miao Lijie (China), Danira Nakic-Bilic (Croatia), Kirk Penney (New Zealand), Romain Sato (Central African Republic) and Skaidrite Smildzina-Budovska (Latvia). Dan Peterson (USA), who coached extensively in Italy, was also recognized.

There’s more international news to pass along:

Fenerbahce has parted ways with former NBA big man Luka Samanic, but will retain his rights through the end of the upcoming season, another Eurohoops story states. Samanic signed a one-year deal in August, but left the team to return home to Croatia in a mutual decision. Fenerbahce added Khem Birch this week as his replacement.
There’s no chance that Filip Petrusev will be returning to Crvena Zvezda this season, BasketNews relays. Petrusev, who had brief appearances with the Sixers and Kings last season, is under contract with Olimpiacos. There was a report earlier this month that he might be loaned out to Crvena Zvezda, but team president Nebojsa Covic quashed that speculation. “This saga has been ongoing for months,” he said. “There was interest from both sides, but Petrusev is an Olympiacos player. These rumors have gone too far. As of now, Zvezda remains with the current roster.”
Moses Wright, who spent time in the NBA during the 2021/22 season, may be headed to Cyprus, according to a BasketNews report. He’s also interested in becoming a citizen and playing for the national team.

International Notes: Marjanovic, Musa, Petrusev, Collet

September 12th, 2024 at 9:43pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran NBA center Boban Marjanovic is receiving interest from Turkish club Besiktas, according to a report from Meridian Sport (hat tip to Eurohoops).

Marjanovic, 36, has spent the past nine seasons in the NBA and reportedly continues to seek a new opportunity in the league. However, he’s no stranger to European competition, having played in Serbia, Russia, and Lithuania from 2006-15 before making the move across the Atlantic.

The big man led the EuroLeague in rebounding and was named to the All-EuroLeague first team in 2015 during his last season overseas as a member of Crvena Zvezda. He also won a Serbian League (KLS) title that year.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the international basketball world:

Former first-round pick Dzanan Musa, who has been with Real Madrid since 2022, said he turned down NBA interest this offseason in order to stick with the Spanish club, as Kevin Martorano of Sportando relays. “I am very happy in Madrid and to stay here I turned down some offers from the NBA,” Musa told Ricardo Gonzalez of AS.com. “I never closed that door completely, but I would not leave here for any reason. I am a winner, I want to play to win.” Musa, 25, appeared in 49 games for Brooklyn from 2018-20.
Greek club Olympiacos had been expected to loan out former Sixers big man Filip Petrusev to Crvena Zvezda this season, but Petrusev appears likely to stick with Olympiacos for now as a result of injuries to centers Moustapha Fall and Nikola Milutinov, Martorano writes for Sportando. Crvena Zvezda assistant Giannis Sfairopoulos said Petrusev isn’t in the Serbian team’s plans at the moment, per Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.
After coaching the French national team for 15 years and winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, Vincent Collet has – as expected – stepped down from the position, transitioning to an advisory role on the French Federation of Basketball, per a press release. Under Collet, France also won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and took home a pair of World Cup bronze medals in 2014 and 2019.
After returning to Europe this offseason, will Cedi Osman, Omer Yurtseven, and Furkan Korkmaz eventually find their way back to the NBA? Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com (subscription required) spoke to NBA sources about the odds of each player returning stateside in 2025 or further down the road.

Olympiacos Agrees To Loan Out Filip Petrusev

September 2nd, 2024 at 7:02pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Filip Petrusev is expected to have his contract with Olympiacos extended but he’ll be loaned out to another team for the upcoming season, Aris Barkas of Eurohoops.net reports.

Olympiacos is signing longtime NBA wing Evan Fournier, necessitating roster adjustments. Petrusev will likely wind up with Crvena Zvezda. He expressed a desire to return to Belgrade.

In 2022/23, Petrusev helped Zvezda win the AdmiralBet Basketball League of Serbia and the Radivoj Korac Cup.

Petrusev, who suited up for Serbia in the Paris Olympics, played one game with the Sixers and two games with the Kings last season.

The 50th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Petrusev signed a two-year, minimum-salary contract with the 76ers during the 2023 offseason. He received a partial guarantee (approximately $560K) and survived a preseason roster crunch, but was sent to the Clippers in the James Harden blockbuster just eight days into the regular season. The former Gonzaga big man was then flipped to the Kings in a separate deal.

Petrusev signed with Olympiacos after he was waived by Sacramento in November.

International Notes: Yurtseven, Petrusev, T. Williams, 2028 Olympics

August 19th, 2024 at 9:31am CST by Arthur Hill

Omer Yurtseven has an agreement in principle to sign with Panathinaikos in Greece, according to Eurohoops, relaying a report from Greek news outlet SDNA. Panathinaikos has reportedly made an official offer for the 26-year-old center, and coach Ergin Ataman has given the club president a “green light” for the signing.

Sources tell Eurohoops that even though Yurtseven has reached an agreement with the team, he has requested a few more days to explore his NBA options before finalizing it. He has spent the past three years in the NBA, playing for Utah last season after two years in Miami. He had a $2.66MM non-guaranteed salary for 2024/25, but the Jazz opted to waive him in July.

Yurtseven started his career in Europe with Fenerbahce before heading to the U.S. to play collegiately with North Carolina State and Georgetown.

There’s more international news to pass along:

Filip Petrusev, who played three combined games with Philadelphia and Sacramento last season, may be returning to Crvena Zvezda, writes Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. Petrusev remains under contract with Olympiacos after signing with the Greek team in November, but the 24-year-old big man is reportedly discussing a return to Belgrade. “We have not reached an agreement, yet. We were in talks,” team president Nebojsa Covic told Serbian television network Prva. “He expressed his desire. We worked on it and are working on it, especially with (Sasha) Vezenkov back.” Olympiacos doesn’t appear willing to part with Petrusev, issuing a statement in response that reads, “Mr. Covic should occupy himself with the players of his team instead of those of Olympiacos.” Petrusev played for Serbia in the Olympics.
Trevion Williams is part of the roster announced by ALBA Berlin for the upcoming season, per Eurohoops. The 23-year-old big man, who played four years at Purdue, was selected by the Suns’ new G League affiliate in the June expansion draft.
Danny Chau of The Ringer looks ahead to the 2028 Olympics, including some international prospects who are likely to make their debuts.

Serbia, Greece Set 12-Man Rosters For Olympics

July 23rd, 2024 at 9:10am CST by Luke Adams

Two more nations have set their 12-man rosters for the upcoming Olympic games in Paris, with Serbia and Greece both officially announcing their squads (Twitter links).

The Serbian roster is headlined by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and includes a few more NBA players beyond the Nuggets center. Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, Hornets guard Vasilije Micic, and Heat forward Nikola Jovic will also represent Serbia in Paris.

Jovic’s inclusion is particularly notable, since there was some uncertainty earlier this month about whether he’d be healthy enough to play. He injured his ankle during an offseason workout in Miami in June, but has apparently received medical clearance for the Olympics.

Nikola Milutinov, Ognjen Dobric, Vanja Marinkovic, Marko Guduric, Filip Petrusev, Aleksa Avramovic, Dejan Davidovac, and Uros Plavsic round out Serbia’s roster. Former NBA first-round pick Aleksej Pokusevski, who finished last season with the Hornets, isn’t among the final 12.

Meanwhile, Greece has also confirmed its Olympic roster, which will be led by another former NBA MVP, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis is the only Antetokounmpo suiting up for Greece in France at this year’s event, since his brothers Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Kostas Antetokounmpo are both dealing with injuries.

While Giannis is the only active NBA player on the Greek roster, a few others have previously played in the league, including Nick Calathes, Georgios Papagiannis, and Kostas Papanikolaou. Former Stephen F. Austin standout Thomas Walkup also signed an NBA contract back in 2016, though he never appeared in a regular season game.

Dinos Mitoglou, Giannoulis Larentzakis, Vassilis Charalampopoulos, Nikos Chougkaz, Dimitris Moraitis, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, and Vassilis Toliopoulos make up the rest of Greece’s roster.

Serbia’s first pool-play game of the Olympics will take place on Sunday vs. Team USA, while Greece’s Olympic schedule will tip off a day earlier, with a Saturday showdown vs. Canada.

Nikola Jokic Included On Serbia’s Preliminary Olympic Roster

June 10th, 2024 at 3:52pm CST by Luke Adams

The Serbian national team has officially unveiled its preliminary roster for the 2024 Olympics, and that group is headlined by a noteworthy name. Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is one of the 16 players on Serbia’s preliminary roster, which will be cut down to 12 players for this summer’s games in Paris.

Jokic was noncommittal when asked last month at the end of Denver’s season whether he intended to play for Serbia in the Olympics. Svetislav Pesic, the head coach of the national team, recently stated that the Nuggets star remained undecided. Jokic’s inclusion on the 16-man preliminary roster doesn’t guarantee he’ll be in Paris, but it’s a signal that he’s planning to participate.

Even without Jokic, the Serbians claimed a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, falling to Germany in the final but qualifying for the Olympics based on that deep World Cup run. Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic and Heat forward Nikola Jovic were among the key players on that team.

Bogdanovic and Jovic are also on the preliminary Olympic roster, and are joined by three more NBA players in Jokic, Hornets guard Vasilije Micic, and Hornets forward Aleksej Pokusevski. Filip Petrusev and Marko Guduric previously played in the NBA, while Nikola Milutinov, Ognjen Jaramaz, and Vanja Marinkovic were selected in past drafts but have never signed NBA contracts.

Serbia will be in Group C along with the United States at the Olympics and can secure a spot in the quarterfinals with a top-two finish in round-robin play. South Sudan and the winner of an Olympic qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico (Lithuania is the top-rated club in that six-team tournament) will be the other competition in Group C. Assuming Jokic plays, he could end up facing fellow Nuggets star Jamal Murray – who will suit up for Canada – at some point in the single-elimination portion of the event.

Filip Petrusev Officially Signs With Olympiacos

November 28th, 2023 at 7:21am CST by Luke Adams

As expected, former Sixers and Kings big man Filip Petrusev has returned to the EuroLeague, officially signing with Olympiacos, according to a press release from the Greek club.

Petrusev’s deal with Olympiacos was reported when he was waived by Sacramento last week. As we relayed over the weekend, the Serbian agreed to a three-year contract from the team. It reportedly includes a third-year club option and NBA outs.

The 50th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Petrusev remained overseas for two seasons before signing a two-year, minimum-salary contract with the 76ers during the 2023 offseason. He received a partial guarantee (approximately $560K) and survived a preseason roster crunch, but was sent to the Clippers in the James Harden blockbuster just eight days into the regular season and then flipped to the Kings in a separate deal.

Petrusev, 23, ultimately appeared in just three games in his NBA rookie season — one for Philadelphia and two for Sacramento. As Eurohoops relays, the forward/center said this week that Kings teammate and former Olympiacos star Sasha Vezenkov helped convince him to return to Europe and join the Greek club, which will give him a chance to play more regularly.

According to Eurohoops, Petrusev isn’t ruling out the possibility of playing again in the NBA down the road, but believes it will be better for his growth to take on a key role in the EuroLeague rather than sitting on the bench in the NBA. And if he does decide to return stateside eventually, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent, rather than having a single team control his rights.

“I didn’t give up on the NBA dream because it didn’t go well this year,” Petrusev said. “I’m young, there’s time for everything. I might come back in two or three years. If I want to return to the NBA, I can go anywhere and not just to the Sixers, where it was my only choice.”

Petrusev joins an Olympiacos roster that features many former NBA players, including Isaiah Canaan, Ignas Brazdeikis, Nigel Williams-Goss, and Naz Mitrou-Long, among others. He previously played in the EuroLeague from 2021-23 as a member of Anadolu Efes and Crvena Zvezda.