Vezenkov, Olympiacos advance in EuroLeague Playoffs with Kings’ Brown in attendance

May 9, 2023, 1:46 PM | Updated: 2:08 pm

ATHENS, GREECE - MAY 09: Sasha Vezenkov, #14 of Olympiacos Piraeus in action during the 2022/2023 T...

(Photo by Panagiotis Moschandreou/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Sasha Vezenkov and Olympiacos are moving on in the EuroLeague Playoffs.

Olympiacos used a big 15-0 run to end the first half as a huge momentum boost in Tuesday’s win-or-go-home Game 5 in Piraeus, Greece, as Fenerbahçe could not close the gap down the final stretch.

After finishing off an 84-72 win, Olympiacos will advance to the EuroLeague semifinals and face the winner of Wednesday’s Game 5 between AS Monaco and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

Vezenkov, a player currently high on Sacramento’s radar as a potential piece to add to the fold for next season, did most of his damage late during Tuesday’s win. The forward scored 10 of his 17 points in the final period on a night that also saw the Bulgarian grab five rebounds and swipe a steal over 33 minutes.

The 27-year-old finished the game seven-of-ten from the field and three-for-three from the free-throw line while scoring all of his points in or around the paint while showing off his quick release on his mid-range attempts.

Put together Offense clips from Vezenkov's game today with Mike Brown watching.

Vezenkov had:

17 PTS (7/10 2FG 0/2 3FG 3/3 FT)
5 REBS (2 Offensive)

Also was part of a huge run to secure the W for Olympiacos in the 2nd half. pic.twitter.com/AmfRWg7CTs

— cashiggy (@cashiggy11) May 9, 2023

It was a noteworthy performance for Vezenkov, who is rumored to be seriously considering a move to the NBA following Olympiacos’ EuroLeague Playoff run this spring.

Kings head coach Mike Brown, Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis, and other members of Sacramento’s front office attended Tuesday’s game, adding to the buzz currently surrounding the Vezenkvov-to-NBA hype.

Over 37 appearances in the EuroLeague this season, Vezenkov averaged 17.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 65 percent on two-point field goals and 39 percent from beyond the three-point arc.

The Kings acquired Vezenkov’s NBA rights during a draft day trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers last June, and now they hope to bring the 6’9 forward over to the United States for the 2023-24 season.

Mike Brown of the @SacramentoKings in the building for Game 5! pic.twitter.com/J49JwdJzXI

— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) May 9, 2023

“Of course, it’s a dream for anyone who plays basketball,” Vezenkov said of playing in the NBA when asked in April. “But I don’t think about doing it just to say I did it. If the situation is good, the team wants me and we find a way and an opportunity, something can be done.”

“When I say about an opportunity, I’m talking about being able to have the ability to play and show who I am. At this moment, my mind is on making the Final Four with Olympiacos, nothing else. I want to be in Kaunas, that’s all I think about.”

Last summer, Vezenkov appeared to be closing in on signing a deal with Sacramento, but instead opted to re-up with Olympiacos on a multi-year deal shortly after changing his mind on traveling to Las Vegas to meet with the team at NBA Summer League.

The Kings, who were on the heels of an NBA record 16th-straight season without postseason basketball, had plenty of risk on the surface for a foreign player that wanted to join a winning environment.

Not even one year later, Sacramento is coming off an incredible season that included its winningest season since 2005, its first playoff appearance since 2006, and a Pacific Division title for the first time since 2003.

As the EuroLeague Playoffs continue, plenty of eyes will be on Vezenkov–especially those in the Sacramento Kings front office, who will be watching closer than ever in the coming weeks.

Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown is in Greece to watch Sasha Vezenkov in the EuroLeague Playoffs.pic.twitter.com/36rcaHOIbl

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) May 9, 2023

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