Slovak basketball player shines as NBA prospect, says Serbian analyst

Richard Petruška remains the only Slovak drafted to the NBA.

By: spectator.sme.sk

Sep 12 2024
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Slovak basketball player shine

Timotej Malovec, a promising Slovak basketball player, has been highlighted as a potential NBA prospect by renowned analyst Srdjan Todorović of the Serbian news site Telegraf.rs. In a recent interview with sportnet.sk, Todorović shared his optimistic view of Malovec’s future.

“It would be fantastic to see him among drafted players next year,” Todorović said. “I wouldn’t rule it out, given his immense potential.”

He added that Malovec’s success in the 2024/2025 season will largely depend on his commitment to development. At 20 years old, Malovec is about to start his second season with KK Mega, a Serbian club based in Belgrade that has become known for its track record of NBA draftees.

Although Malovec was a candidate for this year’s draft, his agent, Miško Ražnatović—who also represents NBA star Nikola Jokić—chose to hold off.

“I think it was a wise move. Mega is making steady progress in player development,” Todorović observed. “You can see that many players who have returned for another year have subsequently been drafted.”

Todorović believes that another season in Serbia could be highly beneficial for Malovec.

“He’ll face teams in the EuroLeague like Partizan and Crvena zvezda, as well as EuroCup teams such as Cedevita Olimpija and Budućnost Podgorica. Additionally, he’ll compete against Champions League teams like FMP Belgrade and Bosnian Igokea. This experience will be invaluable in preparing him for future challenges. Furthermore, NBA scouts frequently attend KK Mega games, which offers Timotej a great chance to make an impression.”

Todorović also noted that if Malovec is not drafted into the NBA, he could still land a spot with a top-tier EuroCup or EuroLeague team.

“I’m confident in his talent and future prospects. If he continues on his current trajectory, he will definitely compete in major European leagues like the EuroLeague, EuroCup, or Champions League,” Todorović concluded.

As of now, the only Slovak to have been drafted into the NBA is Richard Petruška from Levice. In 1993, he was selected 46th overall by the Houston Rockets, a team with which he clinched an NBA Championship just a year later.