Sacramento Kings finalize contract with EuroLeague MVP and Olympiacos star Sasha Vezenkov

Sasha Vezenkov, a two-time Greek League Most Valuable Player and the reigning EuroLeague MVP, is officially a member of the Sacramento Kings.

The Kings formally announced the signing of Vezenkov on Tuesday after a yearlong courtship. The 27-year-old forward will add depth and firepower to a team that went to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

The Kings and Vezenkov agreed to a three-year, $20 million contract on July 1. Sources told HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto the first two years of the deal are fully guaranteed with a team option for the 2025-26 season. The team submitted the contract to the NBA office last week, but a league source told The Sacramento Bee the Kings had to wait until they received a letter of clearance to announce the deal.

Four days after reaching an agreement with the Kings, Vezenkov was seen sitting courtside on the final day of the California Classic at Golden 1 Center. Vezenkov spent time with Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, general manager Monte McNair, assistant general manager Wes Wilcox, coach Mike Brown and other members of the organization. The former Olympiacos star then accompanied the team to Las Vegas for the first few days of summer league.

Vezenkov is a 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward who averaged 17.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while leading Olympiacos to a Greek League title and the championship game at the EuroLeague Final Four last season. He shot 37.8% from 3-point range. Vezenkov received the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy and was selected to the All-EuroLeague First Team for a second consecutive season.

Vezenkov was originally selected by the Brookly Nets with the 57th pick in the 2017 NBA draft. The Kings acquired his draft rights last summer in a trade that sent the 49th pick in the 2022 NBA draft to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Following his stops in Sacramento and Las Vegas, Vezenkov returned to his native Bulgaria, where he discussed his decision to sign with Sacramento in an interview with Victoria Petrova of EuroHoops.

“They certainly show me that they are happy and believe in me,” Vezenkov said. “I can’t wait for the work to begin. I am currently training in Bulgaria. Last season was a winning season and the bar is high. Each new place has its own characteristics. I’ll be working as I have been and with any luck I think I’ll be fine. When you are in one place for five years, living in your comfort zone and everything is familiar to you, it makes you think. On the other hand, going to Olympiacos, I built my comfort zone with my work and the people around me. I want to work and settle there.”