{"id":5439,"date":"2026-07-26T20:36:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T20:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=5439"},"modified":"2026-07-26T20:36:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T20:36:36","slug":"cavaliers-signing-ex-knick-mario-hezonja-after-lebron-james-spurned-them-for-76ers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=5439","title":{"rendered":"Cavaliers signing ex-Knick Mario Hezonja after LeBron James spurned them for 76ers"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The Cleveland Cavaliers did not get LeBron James, but they did sign someone who once blocked him for a game-winner several years ago.<\/p>\n

Read more GOP chief claims NJ\u2019s 6,600 non-citizens illegally registered to vote are just tip of the iceberg: \u2018More to come\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Former Knicks swingman and draft bust Mario Hezonja is back in the NBA, agreeing to a one-year, $2.8 million deal with the Cavs, per ESPN. The 31-year-old returning to the NBA for the first time since 2020, and four years after saying he would never do so.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m not going to return to the NBA\u201d, Hezonja said, according to Basket News in April of 2022. \u201cThere was a lot I didn\u2019t like there, I didn\u2019t get the respect that I deserved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hezonja added, \u201cIn my opinion, the NBA is more of a show than the game itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The news arrives following the stunner of LeBron James joining the Philadelphia 76ers over the Cavs and Miami Heat, who were among the other teams in pursuit.<\/p>\n

The Dubrovnik, Croatia native was selected No. 5 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, one slot behind the Knicks, who selected fellow European standout Kristaps Porzingis at No. 4. <\/p>\n

Hezonja spent his first three seasons with the Orlando Magic, who declined his fourth-year option, which made him a free agent in 2018, when he was signed to a one-year deal by the Knicks. <\/p>\n

His best NBA season came in 2017-18, his last in Orlando, where he posted 9.6 points per game and shot 44.2 percent from the field, both career-highs. <\/p>\n

Read more Raging DNC boss Ken Martin threw phone at aide\u2019s desk as committee forced to put up HQ as loan collateral: report<\/a><\/p>\n

His most recent NBA stint came in 2019-20 with the Portland Trail Blazers. <\/p>\n

Over the last four seasons, Hezonja has starred for Real Madrid, one of the premier basketball teams worldwide, where he had a very successful tenure. <\/p>\n

While in Madrid, Hezonja won a prestigious EuroLeague title in 2023, his first season with the club, and was named to the All-EuroLeague Second Team in 2024 for the first time in his career. <\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Madrid also competes in the Spanish ACB league domestically, where Hezonja and the team won the Liga Endesa title in 2024 and 2025, respectively. <\/p>\n

At Madrid, Hezonja also won the Liga ACB MVP for his play in the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n

This past season, Hezonja averaged 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while logging 23.1 minutes per contest. <\/p>\n

Hezonja also actively plays for the Croatian national basketball team, having just participated in the FIBA 2027 World Cup Qualifying window earlier this month.<\/p>\n

Read more The team \u2018intriguing\u2019 Stefon Diggs as he draws interest with NFL training camps starting<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cleveland Cavaliers did not get LeBron James, but they did sign someone who once blocked him for a game-winner several years ago. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\nCavaliers signing ex-Knick Mario Hezonja after LeBron James spurned them for 76ers - Metro Transit Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=5439\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cavaliers signing ex-Knick Mario Hezonja after LeBron James spurned them for 76ers - 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