Dejan Vasiljevic Explained

Dejan Vasiljevic
Position:Shooting guard
Height Cm:190
Weight Kg:88
League:NBL1 South
Team:Waverley Falcons
Number:34
Birth Date:26 April 1997
Birth Place:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Nationality:Australian
High School:Lake Ginninderra (Canberra, ACT)
College:Miami (Florida) (2016–2020)
Draft Year:2020
Career Start:2013
Years1:2013
Team1:Melbourne Tigers
Years2:2014–2015
Team2:BA Centre of Excellence
Years3:2016
Team3:Diamond Valley Eagles
Years4:2020–2023
Team4:Sydney Kings
Years5:2022–2023
Team5:Diamond Valley Eagles
Years6:2023–present
Team6:Adelaide 36ers
Years7:2024–present
Team7:Waverley Falcons
Highlights:

Dejan "DJ" Vasiljevic[1] (born 26 April 1997) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Waverley Falcons of NBL1 South. He is also contracted to the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League (NBL). Vasiljevic played college basketball for the Miami Hurricanes.

Early life

Vasiljevic was born in Calgary, Alberta, the son of Serbian handball player Todor Vasiljević. He moved with his family to Melbourne at the age of six. Growing up, Vasiljevic played soccer, tennis, and cricket, and did not begin playing basketball until the age of 12. His father attempted to mold him after Croatian basketball player Drazen Petrovic and enrolled his son at the Australian Institute of Sport. Vasiljevic was recruited by Stanford, LSU, Louisville, and California, but he signed with Miami because he liked the academics and his family loved the city.[2]

College career

Vasiljevic set the Miami freshman record for made three-pointers (51) while averaging 6.0 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.[3] He posted 9.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore, while shooting 41.1 percent from three-point range.[4] At the end of his sophomore season, Vasiljevic suffered a stress fracture in his foot. Instead of surgery, he went on a nutrition plan crafted by his girlfriend, and lost some weight.[5] As a junior, Vasiljevic averaged 11.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on a team that finished 14–18.[6] Following his junior season, Vasiljevic considered turning professional, but was persuaded to return by coach Jim Larrañaga. On 21 November 2019, he scored a career-high 25 points including the two clinching foul shots with 1.2 seconds remaining in a 74–70 win over Missouri State.[7] As a senior, Vasiljevic averaged 13.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He scored 1,271 points in his college career, ranking 21st on the Hurricane's all-time list, and is second in made three-pointers with 272.[8]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Vasiljevic signed with the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL) on 17 July 2020.[9] In 21 games in the 2020–21 NBL season, he averaged 15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.[10]

In the 2021–22 NBL season, Vasiljevic helped the Kings win the championship.[11] In 31 games, he averaged 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

In the 2022 off-season, Vasiljevic played for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Summer League[12] and the Diamond Valley Eagles in the NBL1 South.

On 4 January 2023, Vasiljevic scored a career-high 42 points with ten 3-pointers in a 118–102 win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix.[13] He went on to help the Kings win back-to-back NBL championships.[14] In 36 games in 2022–23, he averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He opted out of his contract with the Kings following the season[15] and returned to the Diamond Valley Eagles for a short stint.

Vasiljevic played for the Washington Wizards in the 2023 NBA Summer League and then joined the team for a brief pre-season stint.[16] [17]

On 17 October 2023, Vasiljevic signed with the Adelaide 36ers for the rest of the 2023–24 NBL season.[18] On 29 January 2024, he signed a three-year contract extension with the 36ers.[19]

Vasiljevic joined the Waverley Falcons for the 2024 NBL1 South season.[20]

National team career

Vasiljevic has represented Australia at several international tournaments. In the 2013 FIBA Oceania U16 Tournament, he averaged 20 points per game.[21] He won a silver medal at the 2014 FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Dubai and was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 17.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.[2] [21] At the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Heraklion, Vasiljevic averaged 13.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.[22]

In 2019, he helped his team win bronze at the Summer Universiade in Italy, scoring 33 points in the consolation win against Israel.[23]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sullivan. Matthew. Andrew Bogut hits back at claims Sydney Kings made champ 'the villain' amid ugly NBL exit. News.com.au. 19 October 2023. 1 April 2024.
  2. News: Hajducky . Dan . Don't define Miami's Dejan Vasiljevic as only a 3-point shooter . 10 May 2020 . . 30 January 2019.
  3. Web site: Hepburn . Ky-Shon . Canes Hoops player profile: Dejan Vasiljevic . State of the U . . 10 May 2020 . 22 October 2017.
  4. News: Uluc . Olgun . Top 5 Australian juniors entering the 2018-19 college basketball season . 10 May 2020 . . 29 October 2018.
  5. News: Uluc . Olgun . Dejan Vasiljevic could've gone pro, but is using a lifestyle change and new leadership experience in a career season for Miami . 10 May 2020 . . 29 November 2019.
  6. News: Conference season comes early this year . 10 May 2020 . . 4 November 2019.
  7. News: Vasiljevic leads Miami to 74-70 win over Missouri State . 10 May 2020 . . . 21 November 2019.
  8. News: Stock . Christopher . Dejan Vasiljevic shooting on an island, aims to begin pro career . 10 May 2020 . 247 Sports . 19 April 2020.
  9. Web site: Sydney Sign Dejan Vasiljevic on Multi-Year Deal. NBL.com.au. 17 July 2020. 17 July 2020.
  10. Web site: Dejan Vasiljevic. AustraliaBasket.com. 29 June 2023. subscription.
  11. Web site: Kings Win First Championship in 17 Years with Record Crowd. NBL.com.au. 11 May 2022. 11 May 2022.
  12. Web site: Phoenix Suns 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster. NBA.com. 9 July 2022.
  13. Web site: Kings Too Much for Phoenix on DJ's Career Night. NBL.com.au. 4 January 2023. 4 January 2023.
  14. Web site: Kings' Big Finish to Secure Back-to-Back Championships. NBL.com.au. 15 March 2023. 15 March 2023.
  15. Web site: Olgun. Uluc. Dejan Vasiljevic opts out of his Sydney Kings' contract. ESPN.com.au. 29 June 2023. 29 June 2023.
  16. Washington Wizards. Official: We have signed guard Dejan Vasiljevic to an Exhibit 10 contract. Vasiljevic participated in 2023 Summer League with our team in Las Vegas.. 1702773140701511859. WashWizards. 15 September 2023. 16 September 2023.
  17. Washington Wizards. Official: We have signed Jules Bernard to an Exhibit 10 contract. We have also placed Dejan Vasiljevic on waivers.. 1708577479110062200. WashWizards. 1 October 2023. 1 October 2023.
  18. Web site: Vasiljevic completes sensational NBL return. NBL.com.au. 17 October 2023. 17 October 2023.
  19. Web site: DJ locks in new deal. NBL.com.au. 29 January 2024. 29 January 2024.
  20. Web site: Paris dreams as Vasiljevic joins Falcons . Adelaide 36ers . 25 April 2024 . 3 April 2024.
  21. News: Porter . Matt . Basketball recruiting: Dejan Vasiljevic commits to Miami Hurricanes . 10 May 2020 . . 20 January 2016.
  22. Web site: 4 - Dejan Vasiljevic . . 10 May 2020.
  23. Web site: Arsenis . Damian . Dejan Vasiljevic powers Emerging Boomers to Universiade bronze . Pickandroll.com.au . 10 May 2020 . 12 July 2019.