Mario Hezonja is reportedly growing increasingly frustrated with the recent internal changes at Real Madrid and is pushing for a return to the NBA, according to reports from Spain.
Speculation surrounding the Croatian forward’s future has intensified in recent days. As reported by Backdoor Podcast, Hezonja is unhappy with the club’s recent organizational decisions and could be on his way out of Madrid despite being under contract.
One of the main reasons behind his frustration is said to be Real Madrid’s decision to reinstate Juan Carlos Sánchez as General Manager, a move that reportedly reduced the influence of Sergio Rodríguez and Martynas Pocius within the club’s basketball operations.
The report also claims that the dismissal of Sergio Scariolo as head coach played a significant role in Hezonja’s change of stance. The Croatian international is believed to hold the veteran coach in high regard, making Scariolo’s departure another source of disappointment.
Although Hezonja’s current contract runs through the summer of 2029, the report suggests he has no intention of seeing it through if an NBA opportunity materializes. Instead, he is expected to push for an exit with the goal of returning to the league where he previously played for the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, and Portland Trail Blazers.
His contract reportedly includes an NBA-out clause worth $850,000, which remains valid until the end of July, potentially paving the way for a move if an NBA franchise decides to pursue him.
