Milko Bjelica (Serbian Cyrillic: Милко Бјелица; born 4 June 1984) is a Serbian-born Montenegrin professional basketball player for Saitama Broncos of the B.League.

Milko Bjelica
Bjelica with Crvena zvezda
No. 51 – Saitama Broncos
PositionPower forward / center
LeagueB.League
Personal information
Born (1984-06-04) 4 June 1984 (age 40)
Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalityMontenegrin / Serbian
Listed height2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
Listed weight108 kg (238 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2006: undrafted
Playing career2001–present
Career history
2001–2006Crvena zvezda
2006–2007Phantoms Braunschweig
2007–2008Köln 99ers
2008–2011Lietuvos rytas
2011–2013Saski Baskonia
2013–2015Anadolu Efes
2015–2016Darüşşafaka
2016–2018Crvena zvezda
2018Tecnyconta Zaragoza
2018–2019Alvark Tokyo
2019–2021Mornar
2021–2022Al Shamal Doha
2022Al Ittihad Jeddah
2022–2023Nadim Souaid Academy
2024Tainan TSG GhostHawks
2024–presentSaitama Broncos
Career highlights and awards
Bjelica with Anadolu Efes

Professional career

edit

He began his professional career with Crvena zvezda, where he spent five seasons. He then played in Germany with Phantoms Braunschweig and Köln 99ers. In 2008 he signed with Lietuvos rytas, and made his EuroLeague debut during the 2009–10 season.

In July 2011 he signed a two-year deal with Saski Baskonia.[1] On 28 October 2013 he re-signed with Saski Baskonia on a short-term deal.[2] On 30 December 2013 he signed with the Turkish Euroleague team Anadolu Efes for the remainder of the season.[3][4] On 9 July 2014 he extended his contract with Efes for two more years.[5] On 22 June 2015 he left Efes and signed with Darüşşafaka for the 2015–16 season.[6]

On 8 September 2016 Bjelica returned to Crvena zvezda, signing a two-year contract.[7] On 17 April 2018, after parting ways with Crvena zvezda, Bjelica returned to Spain, signing with Basket Zaragoza for the remainder of the season.[8]

On January 5, 2024, Bjelica signed with Tainan TSG GhostHawks of the T1 League.[9] On June 28, Bjelica signed with Saitama Broncos of the B.League.[10]

Career statistics

edit
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high
Led the league

Euroleague

edit
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2009–10 Lietuvos Rytas 10 2 21.5 .462 .154 .667 4.3 1.1 .4 .2 11.8 9.0
2010–11 16 10 26.1 .533 .279 .727 4.7 1.4 .7 .4 12.3 12.1
2011–12 Baskonia 8 2 23.7 .492 .294 .842 3.9 .8 .8 .1 10.6 9.5
2012–13 27 19 17.3 .406 .378 .750 2.7 1.2 .5 .2 5.4 5.7
2013–14 8 3 21.3 .594 .353 .952 4.4 1.3 .3 .4 12.8 13.8
2013–14 Anadolu Efes 14 3 22.8 .459 .270 .913 2.5 1.2 .6 .1 9.4 7.5
2014–15 28 7 16.2 .462 .415 .736 2.5 .8 .2 .3 7.8 6.8
2015–16 Darüşşafaka 24 6 19.1 .434 .354 .679 3.4 .8 .4 .1 7.5 7.5
2016–17 Crvena zvezda 30 1 15.6 .385 .193 .795 3.0 1.1 .5 .3 7.4 7.5
2017–18 Crvena zvezda 29 29 26.0 .397 .297 .703 3.7 1.3 .4 .2 9.2 8.8
Career 194 82 20.2 .446 .305 .750 3.3 1.1 .4 .2 8.6 8.1

Personal life

edit

Born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia, he internationally represents Montenegro,[11] where his grandfather is from. One of his sisters, Milka, is also a basketball player, while another, Ana is a Serbian volleyball player.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Caja Laboral announces the arrival of Milko Bjelica". Sportando.net. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  2. ^ "LABORAL KUTXA brings Bjelica back". Euroleague.net. 28 October 2013. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ "Anadolu Efes signs Milko Bjelica". Sportando.net. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  4. ^ "ANADOLU EFES tabs big man Milko Bjelica". euroleague.net. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "Anadolu Efes keeps Bjelica for two more years". Euroleague.net. July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  6. ^ "Milko Bjelica signs with Darussafaka Dogus". Sportando.com. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Crvena Zvezda brings Bjelica home". Euroleague.net. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Milko Bjelica signs with Tecnyconta Zaragoza". Sportando.basketball. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  9. ^ "台鋼獵鷹第4洋到齊!蒙特內哥羅世界盃國手加盟". ETtoday. January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  10. ^ "2024-25シーズン契約合意(新規)のお知らせ". The Saitama Broncos. June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  11. ^ "Milko Bjelica Player Profile". EUROBASKET. Retrieved 2008-06-28.
edit