Milko Bjelica Explained

Milko Bjelica
Weight Kg:108
League:B.League
Team:Saitama Broncos
Number:51
Position:Power forward / center
Birth Date:4 June 1984
Birth Place:Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Nationality:Montenegrin / Serbian
Draft Year:2006
Career Start:2001
Years1:2001–2006
Team1:Crvena zvezda
Years2:2006–2007
Team2:Phantoms Braunschweig
Years3:2007–2008
Team3:Köln 99ers
Years4:2008–2011
Team4:Lietuvos rytas
Years5:2011–2013
Team5:Saski Baskonia
Years6:2013–2015
Team6:Anadolu Efes
Years7:2015–2016
Team7:Darüşşafaka
Years8:2016–2018
Team8:Crvena zvezda
Years9:2018
Team9:Tecnyconta Zaragoza
Years10:2018–2019
Team10:Alvark Tokyo
Years11:2019–2021
Team11:Mornar
Years12:2021–2022
Team12:Al Shamal Doha
Years13:2022
Team13:Al Ittihad Jeddah
Years14:2022–2023
Team14:Nadim Souaid Academy
Years15:2024
Team15:Tainan TSG GhostHawks
Years16:2024–present
Team16:Saitama Broncos
Awards:

Milko Bjelica (Serbian: Милко Бјелица; born 4 June 1984) is a Serbian-born Montenegrin professional basketball player for Saitama Broncos of the B.League.

Professional career

He began his professional career with Crvena zvezda, where he spent five seasons. He then played in Germany with Phantoms Braunschweig and Köln 99ers. In 2008 he signed with Lietuvos rytas, and made his EuroLeague debut during the 2009–10 season.

In July 2011 he signed a two-year deal with Saski Baskonia.[1] On 28 October 2013 he re-signed with Saski Baskonia on a short-term deal.[2] On 30 December 2013 he signed with the Turkish Euroleague team Anadolu Efes for the remainder of the season.[3] [4] On 9 July 2014 he extended his contract with Efes for two more years.[5] On 22 June 2015 he left Efes and signed with Darüşşafaka for the 2015–16 season.[6]

On 8 September 2016 Bjelica returned to Crvena zvezda, signing a two-year contract.[7] On 17 April 2018, after parting ways with Crvena zvezda, Bjelica returned to Spain, signing with Basket Zaragoza for the remainder of the season.[8]

On January 5, 2024, Bjelica signed with Tainan TSG GhostHawks of the T1 League.[9] On June 28, Bjelica signed with Saitama Broncos of the B.League.[10]

Career statistics

Led the league

Euroleague

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2| Lietuvos Rytas| 10 || 2 || 21.5 || .462 || .154 || .667 || 4.3 || 1.1 || .4 || .2 || 11.8 || 9.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11| 16 || 10 || 26.1 || .533 || .279 || .727 || 4.7 || 1.4 || .7 || .4 || 12.3 || 12.1|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2011–12| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=3| Baskonia| 8 || 2 || 23.7 || .492 || .294 || .842 || 3.9 || .8 || .8 || .1 || 10.6 || 9.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13| 27 || 19 || 17.3 || .406 || .378 || .750 || 2.7 || 1.2 || .5 || .2 || 5.4 || 5.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14| 8 || 3 || 21.3 || .594 || .353 || style="background:#CFECEC;"|.952 || 4.4 || 1.3 || .3 || .4 || 12.8 || 13.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2| Anadolu Efes| 14 || 3 || 22.8 || .459 || .270 || style="background:#CFECEC;"|.913 || 2.5 || 1.2 || .6 || .1 || 9.4 || 7.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15| 28 || 7 || 16.2 || .462 || .415 || .736 || 2.5 || .8 || .2 || .3 || 7.8 || 6.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16| style="text-align:left;"| Darüşşafaka| 24 || 6 || 19.1 || .434 || .354 || .679 || 3.4 || .8 || .4 || .1 || 7.5 || 7.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17| style="text-align:left;"| Crvena zvezda| 30 || 1 || 15.6 || .385 || .193 || .795 || 3.0 || 1.1 || .5 || .3 || 7.4 || 7.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;"| Crvena zvezda| 29 || 29 || 26.0 || .397 || .297 || .703 || 3.7 || 1.3 || .4 || .2 || 9.2 || 8.8|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| Career| 194 || 82 || 20.2 || .446 || .305 || .750 || 3.3 || 1.1 || .4 || .2 || 8.6 || 8.1

Personal life

Born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia, he internationally represents Montenegro,[11] where his grandfather is from. One of his sisters, Milka, is also a basketball player, while another, Ana is a Serbian volleyball player.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Caja Laboral announces the arrival of Milko Bjelica. 30 December 2013. Sportando.net. 26 July 2011.
  2. News: LABORAL KUTXA brings Bjelica back . 22 June 2015 . Euroleague.net . 28 October 2013 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20131102024824/http://www.euroleague.net/euroleaguenews/transactions/2013-14-signings/i/121441/8177/laboral-kutxa-brings-bjelica-back . November 2, 2013 .
  3. News: Anadolu Efes signs Milko Bjelica. 30 December 2013. Sportando.net.
  4. Web site: ANADOLU EFES tabs big man Milko Bjelica . euroleague.net . 22 June 2015 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20140102203609/http://www.euroleague.net/euroleaguenews/transactions/2013-14-signings/i/127256/8177/anadolu-efes-tabs-big-man-milko-bjelica . January 2, 2014 .
  5. News: Anadolu Efes keeps Bjelica for two more years. July 9, 2014. Euroleague.net. July 9, 2014.
  6. News: Milko Bjelica signs with Darussafaka Dogus. 22 June 2015. Sportando.com. 22 June 2015.
  7. News: Crvena Zvezda brings Bjelica home. 11 September 2016. Euroleague.net. 8 September 2016.
  8. News: Milko Bjelica signs with Tecnyconta Zaragoza. 18 April 2018. Sportando.basketball. 17 April 2018.
  9. News: 台鋼獵鷹第4洋到齊!蒙特內哥羅世界盃國手加盟 . January 5, 2024 . ETtoday . January 5, 2024.
  10. News: 2024-25シーズン契約合意(新規)のお知らせ . June 29, 2024 . The Saitama Broncos . June 28, 2024.
  11. Web site: Milko Bjelica Player Profile . EUROBASKET . 2008-06-28 .