NBA Rumors: An old promise wants to return to the league
Aleksej Pokusevski was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2020 Draft, but he never managed to make a mark in the elite of world basketball.
Aleksej Pokusevski has not closed the door to returning to the NBA. The player, who was selected in the first round of the 2020 Draft, believes he still has a "realistic" opportunity to return to the league, although he is aware that he must continue to improve his game first.
The Serbian player, born in Belgrade and standing at 2.13 meters tall, was selected with the 17th pick in the 2020 Draft. Pokusevski spent his first three and a half seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets in February 2024.
The power forward finished the 2023-24 season in Charlotte but has spent the last two seasons out of the NBA. During this time, he played for KK Partizan before signing earlier this month with the Russian Lokomotiv Kuban.
Pokusevski still thinks about returning to the NBA
The Serbian acknowledges that his return to the NBA necessarily involves continuing to evolve as a player. In his 168 games played in the American league, all with Oklahoma City and Charlotte, he averaged 7.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 20.4 minutes per game, with shooting percentages of 39.1% from the field, 30.4% from three-point range, and 70.2% from the free-throw line.
Moreover, Pokusevski did not manage to make a significant impact in the EuroLeague during any of his last two seasons.
“I went to the NBA very early and played a lot. I had good and bad moments. There was a bit of everything,” Pokusevski explained to Meridian Sport.
After his time in the NBA, the player returned to the EuroLeague with Partizan, an experience that did not end as he had hoped.
“Then I came to the EuroLeague, to Partizan, where I wasn’t very happy with how things went and how it all ended. Undoubtedly, I’m thinking about returning to the NBA. I don’t like to think about unrealistic things, but I believe this is something realistic, especially considering my age,” he stated.
A path that must be taken step by step
Pokusevski is aware that he still needs to take several steps before he is ready to return to competition in the United States. His goal is not just to return to the NBA, but to reach the level necessary to play an important role wherever he plays.
“There will be time to reach that level. I don’t think about the NBA every day, but it is in my mind. I need to take steps every day, not just to reach the NBA, but to attain a level where I can play good basketball and have the appropriate status, whether at Lokomotiv or with some EuroLeague team,” he asserted.
The Serbian player made it clear that his desire remains to return to the American league, although he believes that goal should come as a natural consequence of his evolution and the decisions he makes in the coming months.
“Of course, I want to be in the NBA, but that can only be achieved naturally and by making good decisions,” he added.
Lokomotiv, his new opportunity
During this summer, Pokusevski's representatives held talks with several EuroLeague teams, including a few Greek clubs. However, the player was clear that he wanted to find a destination where he could enjoy a significant role.
Ultimately, he feels that he has found that opportunity at Lokomotiv Kuban, a team coached by Tomislav Tomovic, a former professional player and Serbian coach.
Pokusevski's goal now is to take advantage of his new stage in Russia to continue developing his game and progressively approach the level he deems necessary to have another opportunity in the NBA.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rumores NBA: Una antigua promesa quiere volver a la liga
