Vasilije Micic, a seasoned international player, finally made his NBA debut with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2023-24 season after almost a decade of waiting for the right opportunity. Initially selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2014 NBA Draft, his rights were eventually traded to the Thunder in the Al Horford deal during the 2020 draft night. Micic sought to join a competitive team that could offer him a quality role, which led to him signing a three-year, $23.5 million contract with OKC. Despite some great moments, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets at the trade deadline.
During his first NBA offseason, Micic, who has been with adidas as a signature athlete since the age of 17, attended the 17th annual adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy. He spoke about his journey to the NBA and his experience with the Thunder in Oklahoma City, revealing that the timing was crucial in his decision to finally join the league. Micic praised Thunder GM Sam Presti for his patient approach in bringing him to the NBA and emphasized the respect and honesty shown to him by the organization.
In his 30 games with the Thunder, Micic played a total of 361 minutes in a bench role, showcasing his flexibility and willingness to accept whatever opportunities came his way. Despite not playing the exact role he had envisioned, he appreciated the chance to learn from the young and talented Thunder squad. Micic highlighted the professionalism and humility of the team, particularly singling out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a leader who made an effort to engage with him despite being one of the top players in the NBA.
As the player with the most basketball experience on the Thunder roster, Micic took on a mentoring role to help develop the young team into professionals. Although his time in Oklahoma City was short-lived due to the trade to the Hornets, Micic had a positive experience with the Thunder organization and was grateful for the opportunity to contribute and share his knowledge with the team. Looking back on his rookie season, he reflected on the uniqueness of the Thunder team and their potential for success in the future.
In conclusion, Vasilije Micic’s journey to the NBA culminated in a rookie season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he played a valuable role despite the challenges of adjusting to a new league and team. His experience with the Thunder organization was positive, and he appreciated the opportunity to learn from and contribute to the young squad. As he continues his career in the NBA, Micic remains focused on embracing new challenges and opportunities while sharing his wealth of experience and knowledge with his teammates.
