Mario Nakić

Mario Nakić (Serbian Cyrillic: Марио Накић; born 14 June 2001) is a Serbian-Croatian professional basketball player for Igokea of the ABA League.

Mario Nakić
No. 17 – Igokea
PositionSmall forward
LeagueAdriatic League
Bosnian League
Personal information
Born (2001-06-14) 14 June 2001
Belgrade, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia
NationalitySerbian / Croatian[1]
Listed height2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight99 kg (218 lb)
Career information
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2021Real Madrid
2020–2021→Oostende
2021–2022MoraBanc Andorra
2022–presentIgokea
Career highlights and awards

Early life and career

Nakić was born in Belgrade, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia to a Croatian father and a Serbian mother.[2] His father is Ivo Nakić, a former Croatian professional basketball player.[3] His mother is Zorica Desnica. Nakić's older half-brother is Filip Živojinović, a son of Serbian former tennis player Slobodan Živojinović.[4]

He started his basketball career with the youth team of Zemun where he played until 2014.[5] In the 2014–15 season, Nakić played with the youth selection of Serbian powerhouse Partizan. He moved to the Real Madrid's youth team one year later, for the 2015–16 season. He was selected to the all-tournament team for the 2017–18 season of the Next Generation Tournament. Nakić was a member of the Real Madrid U18 team that won the Next Generation Tournament in the 2018–19 season. He was named the MVP and selected to the all-tournament team after helping defeat Mega Bemax Belgrade in the final. He set championship game records with 33 points and a performance index rating of 41.[6][7]

Professional career

On 24 May 2018 Nakić made a debut with Real Madrid in the Liga ACB (the top-tier Spanish League). He scored two points in a Real Madrid's 2017–18 season loss from Herbalife Gran Canaria.[8]

Following the 2020–21 season Nakić declared himself for the 2021 NBA draft. On 19 July 2021 he withdrawn his name from consideration for the 2021 NBA draft.[9]

On 3 August 2021 he signed with MoraBanc Andorra of the Liga ACB.[10] Previously declared, Nakić subsequently withdrawn his name from consideration for the 2022 NBA draft.[11]

On 16 August 2022, Nakić signed a 3-year contract with Igokea of the ABA League.[12][13]

National team career

Nakić is eligible to play for either Croatia or Serbia.[14] In May 2019, the Croatian head coach Veljko Mršić stated that Nakić has not decided anything yet, but he is closer to play for Serbia.[15] That was followed by confirmation of the Basketball Federation of Serbia Vice president Igor Rakočević.[16] In the end, the Serbian head coach Aleksandar Đorđević confirmed that Nakić has not decided anything yet.[17] In September 2022, Nakić stated that there is no decision yet which nation team he will represent.[18]

Career achievements and awards

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

EuroLeague
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2019–20 Real Madrid 313:58.750—.000.7.0.3.02.01.3

References
  1. "NAKIC, MARIO U18 REAL MADRID". adidasngt.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  2. "RAKOČEVIĆ ZA "NOVOSTI": Želimo da Mario igra za Srbiju". novosti.rs. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  3. "Sin Iva Nakića debitovao za seniore Reala". rs.n1info.com (in Serbian). Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  4. "STEFANA I VIKTORA SVI ZNAJU, ALI TREĆEG BRATA FILIPA ŽIVOJINOVIĆA NE: Pogledajte fotografije Maria Nakića!". expresstabloid.ba. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  5. "SUPER SAM SE SNAŠAO U MADRIDU". sportinfo.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  6. "MVP Nakic of Real Madrid headlines All-Tournament Team". adidasngt.com. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  7. "U18 MEGA BEMAX BELGRADE 76 -- U18 REAL MADRID 95". adidasngt.com. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  8. "HERBALIFE GRAN CANARIA - REAL MADRID 88-78". acb.com (in Serbian). Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  9. "NBA announces 51 early entry candidates withdraw from 2021 Draft". nba.com. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  10. "El futur es diu Nakic". bca.ad (in Spanish). August 3, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  11. "24 early-entry candidates withdraw from NBA Draft 2022". nba.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  12. "Mario Nakić is the new Igokea m:tel reinforcement". aba-liga.com. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  13. "ABA liga jača za nekada veliku nadu Real Madrida". b92.net. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  14. "SA KOLENA NA KOLENO Otac pokorio Evropu sa Partizanom, a sin debitovao u dresu novog prvaka Starog kontinenta". sport.blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  15. "Mladić koji je Real odveo na krov Europe bira između Hrvatske i Srbije". index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  16. ""Mario je bliži tome da igra za Srbiju"; "Moramo da uradimo sve da izabere Hrvatsku"". b92.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  17. "Đorđević: Na pogrešan način se borimo za Nakića". b92.net. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  18. "Nakić nije odlučio da li će igrati za Srbiju ili Hrvatsku". b92.net. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
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