The reason why the MVP of the Eurobasket final cannot return to the NBA in 2025
Isaac Bonga stood out in the game against Turkey and won the gold medal as one of the main players for the German national team in the tournament
The brilliant performance of Isaac Bonga in the recent Eurobasket, where Germany clinched the gold with a flawless 9-0 record, has sparked rumors about a possible return of the small forward to the NBA. However, that possibility will have to wait. According to BasketNews, citing the Serbian outlet Mozzart Sport, Partizan Belgrade's player won't be able to make the leap to the American league during the 2025/26 season as the NBA exit clause in his contract expired this summer.
Bonga recently extended his contract with the Serbian club until 2027, thus securing his immediate future in Europe. His impact in the continental tournament was remarkable: 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game, in addition to being named the Best Defender of the championship. His versatility and ability to influence both ends of the court have solidified his role as a key piece in the German national team's scheme.
At just 25 years old, the swingman already has a unique trajectory. After being selected by the Lakers with the 39th pick in the 2018 draft, he had minimal playing time in his rookie season before being traded to Washington in the deal that sent Anthony Davis to Los Angeles. He experienced his most stable period in the NBA with the Wizards, starting in 49 out of 66 games during the 2019/20 season. Later, he signed with Toronto in 2021, but his stint with the Raptors was brief, leading him to return to Europe in 2022.
Wagner's Words
His compatriot Franz Wagner expressed confidence that he could still fit in the league, emphasizing his profile as an "elite defender" with the ability to score from three-point range and create with the ball, which would be in demand in the United States. However, Bonga downplayed the speculation. When Wagner mentioned the possibility, he responded with a laugh, saying, "That's for you to have something to talk about."
For now, Bonga will remain a central piece in Partizan's project and the German national team, with the door to the NBA closed until at least the summer of 2026.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La razón por la que el MVP de la final del Eurobasket no puede volver a la NBA en 2025
