Mario Hezonja waits for LeBron James' move to return to the NBA

The return of Mario Hezonja to the NBA seems to be a matter of time. After informing Real Madrid of his decision to execute the exit clause to leave the white club, the Croatian small forward has become one of the most coveted free agents in the market, although his next destination will depend, to a large extent, on the decision that LeBron James makes.

According to journalist Marc Stein, several NBA franchises have shown a strong interest in adding Hezonja. The peculiarity is that many of those teams are also waiting for the resolution of LeBron's future, keeping several important market operations frozen.

The LeBron Domino Effect

The free agency of LeBron James continues to set the pace of the NBA. Teams like the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, or Cleveland Cavaliers remain attentive to the decision of the four-time champion, and some of these same franchises have Hezonja as an alternative or complementary target to strengthen their rosters.

This means that the Croatian will have to wait for one of the great summer mysteries to be solved before knowing what his next destination will be.

Farewell to Real Madrid

Hezonja's departure is a tough blow for Real Madrid. The player executed his exit clause before the deadline set for July 20, ending a four-season period in the white team.

His farewell comes after signing the best season of his career in Europe. The small forward was chosen as the MVP of the 2025-26 Liga Endesa after averaging 17.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists, establishing himself as the main offensive reference of the Madrid team.

During his time at Real Madrid, he won a EuroLeague, three Liga Endesa titles, and a Copa del Rey, in addition to becoming one of the most influential players in European basketball. However, his desire to return to the United States weighed more than the contract that tied him to the club until 2029.

A Second Chance in the United States

Hezonja, 31, was chosen as the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, although his first stint in the NBA did not meet the high expectations set. Between 2015 and 2020, he also wore the jerseys of the New York Knicks and the Portland Trail Blazers, before relaunching his career in Europe.

Now, having become one of the best players on the continent, the Croatian believes that the time has come to try again. Only time will tell which franchise will offer him that second opportunity, a decision that could be delayed until LeBron James makes the first move in the NBA market.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mario Hezonja espera el movimiento de LeBron James para volver a la NBA