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Who Is Vasilije Micic? Battling Kevin Durant & Co, 30YO Serbian Star Breaks the Internet

Published 03/15/2024, 9:03 PM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

The Phoenix Suns went head-to-head against the Charlotte Hornets tonight. With several Hornets players out due to injury, the Suns fans expected an easy win for Kevin Durant and Co. However, Charlotte put up a tough fight and made the Suns work for every point. Hornets Guard Vasilije Micic emerged as the unlikely hero as he battled Kevin Durant and got the better of him on multiple occasions.

Micic played one of his best games of the season, scoring 21 points, 3 assists, and 1 rebound. Even more impressive was that the Serbian star held KD to only 13 points. The rookie also had a viral moment during the game. Micic broke Durant’s ankles with a nasty behind-the-back move during the second quarter. The 30-year-old dropped KD to the floor and pump-faked Bradley Beal for an easy layup. The crowd was mesmerized by the rookie’s insane handles.

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It is not often that a rookie outscores Kevin Durant in a game. But Vasilije Micic is no ordinary rookie. He got drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 52nd pick in the 2014 NBA draft. But Micic never played a game in the NBA until this season and made his debut as part of the OKC Thunder. Unfortunately, Micic did not fit well in OKC and got traded to the Hornets at last month’s midseason trade deadline. Micic has played well since joining the Hornets. He is averaging 11.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 2.2 rebounds in Charlotte.

Vasilije Micic stats and accolades in Europe

Vasilije Micic might be a rookie in the NBA. But he is a household name in the European basketball circuit. Micic started his EuroLeague career as part of Bayern Munich in 2014. He then played one season each with Crvena Zvezda and Zalgiris. But Vasilije turned into a EuroLeague legend after joining Anadolu Efes in 2018. He became a 2-time EuroLeague Champion and won back-to-back EuroLeague Final 4 MVP in 2021 and 2022. Micic also won the EuroLeague MVP in 2021 for his incredible performance.

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He played for Anadolu Efes from 2018 to 2023 until joining the OKC Thunder this season. Micic has a EuroLeague career average of 13.1 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.4 rebounds. Vasilije is a European basketball legend and hopes to make a similar impact in the NBA. At 30 years old, Micic is still in his prime and could be a key piece for any Championship contending team. By outscoring Kevin Durant in tonight’s game, Vasilije showed why he was a beast in Europe and can hang with the best players in the NBA.

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Written by:

Rohan Bhaunt

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Rohan Singh Bhaunt, an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports, boasts a background as a divisional basketball player and an NBA enthusiast spanning over a decade. His extensive knowledge of the sport enables him to intricately explore its nuances, presenting a fresh outlook. Rohan's dive into the NBA newsdesk at ES commenced with witnessing LeBron James secure his inaugural championship in Miami.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra