Nikola Peković

Nikola Peković (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Пековић; pronounced [nǐkɔ̝la pê̞ːkɔ̝vitɕ]; born January 3, 1986) is a Montenegrin professional basketball player. He plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association. Peković is 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in)^[1] tall and he plays the center position.

Professional career

Europe

Peković began playing basketball with KK Junior from Podgorica. From there, he went to Belgrade to play for KK Atlas in 2003, and he played for them until 2005, when he moved to KK Partizan. With Partizan, he won three Serbian League championships (2006, 2007, 2008), two Adriatic League championships (2007, 2008), and the Serbian Cup in 2008. He was named the MVP of the Adriatic League Final Four in 2008.

In the summer of 2008, Peković joined the Greek League club Panathinaikos. He signed a 3 year contract worth €4.5 million euros net income. He averaged 13 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, in just over 18 minutes per contest, helping Panathinaikos win the 2008–09 Euroleague title.

NBA

Peković was selected 31st overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.^[2] Many draft experts considered him a top 10 pick, but due to his contract situation with his team in Europe he was selected much lower. He was considered a lock to be drafted with the first pick of the second round because players selected in the second round are not subject to the rookie scale contracts of the first round. This meant that the team that drafted him would be able to pay him more than those players selected later in the first round. Due to the amount of money Peković was making in Europe already, he likely would not have made the jump to the NBA for the amount of money that could be paid to a late first round player. It was reported on June 30, 2010, that Peković had agreed with the Wolves to a 3 year, $13 million gross income deal.^[3]

Return to Europe

On August 16, 2011 he signed a contract to play for Partizan Belgrade in Serbia until the end of the 2011 NBA lockout.^[4]

Regular season

International career

Serbia and Montenegro national team

In 2005, while playing with the Under-21 Serbia and Montenegro national basketball team, he received the bronze medal in Russia at the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. At the 2006 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship held in İzmir, he won the gold medal with his national team.

Montenegro national team

Peković is a member of the Montenegrin men's senior national team.

Awards and accomplishments

Pro career

• Won 3 Serbian Championships: (2006, 2007, 2008)
• Won 2 Adriatic Championships: (2007, 2008)
• Won the Serbian Cup: (2008)
• Adriatic League Final Four MVP: (2008)
• All-Euroleague Second Team: (2008)
• Won the Greek Cup: (2009)
• Won 2 Greek Championships: (2009, 2010)
• All-Euroleague First Team: (2009)
• Won the Euroleague Championship: (2009)
• Won the Triple Crown: (2009)

National team

• 2005 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship - Bronze Medal
• 2006 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship - Gold Medal

References and notes

1. ^ NBA.com - Nikola Pekovic.
2. ^ NBA DraftCast 2008.
3. ^ ESPN.com - Sources: Pekovic's deal worth $13M.
4. ^ PARTIZAN brings former champ Pekovic home.

External links

• NBA.com Profile
• Euroleague.net Profile
• Draftexpress.com Profile
• Adriatic League Profile
• Nikola Pekovic Interbasket Profile
• Ja izbliza: Nikola Peković, košarkaš Partizana, Blic, March 9, 2008 (Serbian)