First Time in 22 Years Two Croatians in NBA All-Star Weekend

Bojan Bogdanović (Brooklyn Nets) and Mario Hezonja (Orlando Magic)

For the first time in 22 years more than one Croatian basketball player will feature in the NBA All-Star Weekend…

Two Croatian internationals, Bojan Bogdanović (Brooklyn Nets) and Mario Hezonja (Orlando Magic), will both feature in the NBA All-Star Weekend which will be held on 12 February at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Bogdanović and Hezonja will play for the Rest of the World selection against an American selection during the weekend in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge. The NBA All-Star Weekend is a weekend festival held every February during the middle of the NBA regular season that consists of a variety of basketball events, exhibitions, and performances culminating in the NBA All-Star Game held on Sunday night.

Teams:

USA:

Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel (76ers), Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell (Lakers), Rodney Hood (Jazz), Jabari Parker (Bucks), Elfrid Payton (Magic), Marcus Smart (Celtics), Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine (Timberwolves).

REST OF THE WORLD:

Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks), Bojan Bogdanović (Nets), Clint Capela (Rockets), Mario Hezonja (Magic), Nikola Jokić. Emmanuel Mudiay (Nuggets), Nikola Mirotić (Bulls), Raul Neto (Jazz), Andrew Wiggins (Timberwolves), Dwight Powell (Mavs).

Bogdanović played in the All-Star Weekend last year, but it will be 20-year-old Hezonja’s debut and he becomes the 5th Croatian player to play in the All-Star Weekend. The last time two Croatians featured together was in 1994 when Toni Kukoč and Dino Rađa played.