Vezenkov thanks Kings and fans in heartfelt post after Raptors trade originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Sasha Vezenkov’s tenure with the Kings was short-lived, but he still cherishes the unforgettable experience.
Shortly after Sacramento traded Vezenkov to the Toronto Raptors on Thursday after just one NBA season with the Kings, the Bulgarian forward shared a heartfelt post on Instagram to express his gratitude to the organization, his teammates and Kings fans.
“Playing my rookie season with the Sacramento Kings was an incredible and unique experience. I am grateful for the opportunity and for all the support I have received from everyone along the way,” wrote Vezenkov. “…I will cherish the good times and look forward to seeing what the future holds for me.”
Vezenkov was sent to Toronto along with Davion Mitchell and the No. 45 pick, Houston Cougars guard Jamal Shead, in last week’s NBA draft in exchange for 26-year-old winger Jalen McDaniels.
After shining in the EuroLeague for years, including a EuroLeague MVP campaign in 2023, Vezenkov took his talents to the NBA with Sacramento.
But his NBA experience didn’t go as planned and he supposedly got frustrated with his lack of playing time during his rookie season.
Vezenkov averaged just 12.2 minutes and recorded multiple DNP (Did Not Plays) during the 2023-24 season, averaging 5.4 points on 44 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 percent shooting from 3-point range. points, adding 2.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.5 steals.
But just because Sasha Vezenkov’s experiment didn’t work for the Kings doesn’t mean things won’t work out for him in Toronto, or wherever he ends up.
And while that’s uncertain at the moment, one thing is certain: he’ll never forget where he started in the NBA.
