| 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: |
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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.
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]
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]
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]
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]