BIO: Dejan Vasiljevic was born in Calgary, Alberta (Canada) before moving with his family to Australia. He spent his teenage years in Melbourne, playing his junior basketball with the Diamond Valley Eagles. Vasiljevic received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2014. He spent two years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2014, 2015).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Dejan Vasiljevic made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 23 years of age. He scored 15 points in his first game.

Sydney faced a significant roster overhaul after finishing runners-up to Perth in the COVID-shortened 2020 Grand Final series. The team had to recover from the loss of All-NBL First Team forward Jae’Sean Tate and head coach Will Weaver, who both signed contracts with the NBA’s Houston Rockets, while veterans Kevin Lisch, Andrew Bogut, and Lucas Walker all retired. Kings assistant Adam Forde stepped in as head coach after being with the organisation since 2019, replacing the outgoing talent with import Jarell Martin, Angus Glover (via Illawarra), and rookie Dejan Vasiljevic (via the University of Miami). During the pre-season, the Kings lost forward Xavier Cooks to a foot injury and signed Tom Vodanovich (via New Zealand) as an injury replacement just before their season opener. The injury setbacks continued when Angus Glover tore his ACL, sidelining him for all but two games of the season.

As the season commenced, the Kings relied heavily on their young core to fill the void left by departing veterans, leading to early struggles. They lost three of their first four games, leaving them at the bottom of the ladder in seventh place. Mid-season, the league moved all teams to Melbourne for the NBL Cup, a tournament designed to mitigate COVID-related travel issues. During the Cup, Sydney found some form, going 4-4, and continued to build momentum with consecutive home wins after the tournament, climbing into the top four by Round 12.

Co-captain Casper Ware (17.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists) and Jarell Martin (17.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) became the focal points on offense, with Martin’s best game coming against New Zealand, where he scored 29 points. Dejan Vasiljevic (15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) quickly became a key piece in the rotation, making an immediate impact in his rookie season. Meanwhile, Jordan Hunter (9.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks) established himself as a vital player, finishing runner-up in the Most Improved Player voting. Vasiljevic’s contributions earned him the NBL Rookie of the Year award, and Xavier Cooks (10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 blocks) also showcased his potential, including a career-high 19 points and 11 rebounds against the Hawks in Round 21.

Sydney’s main limitations during the season were their perimeter shooting, where they were tied with Illawarra for the worst three-point shooting percentage in the league (33.4%), and their road form, losing 50% of their games away from home. With four rounds remaining, Sydney was entrenched in the top four, but a stretch of five losses in seven games, including two blowout losses by over 20 points, caused them to fall out of contention. Despite finishing the season on a three-game winning streak, Sydney finished fifth with a 19-17 record, narrowly missing out on a playoff spot.

2021/22
In 2021, the Sydney Kings appointed unproven US coach Chase Buford, son of San Antonio Spurs mastermind RC Buford, as head coach. Buford inherited a strong core in Xavier Cooks, Jarell Martin, and Dejan Vasiljevic and added former NBA talent Jaylen Adams and fellow import RJ Hunter to the roster.

The coaching change, along with early-season injuries to RJ Hunter (who played only one game), Adams (who missed a third of the season), and young big man Jordan Hunter (who missed the entire season), led to a slow start for the Kings. After a stretch in January where the Kings lost four straight games, Adams returned to the lineup, and the team also brought in former NBA player Ian Clark, a former teammate of Kings co-owner Andrew Bogut. From that point, the Kings’ fortunes turned around.

Vasiljevic contributed 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game as the Kings went on a remarkable run, winning 13 consecutive games to close out the regular season.

In the semifinals, Sydney faced Brian Goorjian’s Illawarra Hawks and comfortably defeated them in two straight games. Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, the debuting Tasmania JackJumpers, who were lucky to even make the playoffs, upset Melbourne United in three games. Tasmania had finished fifth in the standings but qualified for the playoffs due to points percentage after South East Melbourne beat Perth in the final game of the regular season.

In the Grand Final series, Sydney continued their dominance, defeating Tasmania (95-78) in the opening game. Adams, who had been named the NBL MVP just a week earlier, scored 18 points in the win but suffered a hamstring injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the series.

In game two, Tasmania’s Josh Adams exploded for 36 points in front of a sellout crowd, but strong performances from captain Xavier Cooks, Jarell Martin (both with 20 points, with Martin shooting 80% from the field), and Dejan Vasiljevic sealed the win for the Kings (90-86). Vasiljevic nailed a long-range dagger in the closing minutes to clinch the victory, extending Sydney’s road winning streak to 12 games – the most away wins in a single NBL season.

Dejan Vasiljevic with the 𝘿𝘼𝙂𝙂𝙀𝙍 🗡️
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– 📺 Watch the #NBLFinals Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/XDIgoHVKo9— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) May 8, 2022

Cooks was named Finals MVP after averaging 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists across the three games, and at 33 years old, Buford became the fourth-youngest championship-winning coach in NBL history. Only Bob Turner (1983), Ken Richardson (1982), and Jim Ericksen (1981) won championships at a younger age, with two of them serving as player-coaches.

17 years in the making 💜💛#WeTheKings #NBL22 pic.twitter.com/Wz7uIGjTr6— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) May 14, 2022

2022/23
After winning the championship, the Sydney Kings faced significant changes to their roster, losing their star import trio of Jaylen Adams, Jarrell Martin, and Ian Clark to more lucrative overseas deals. To revamp their team, Sydney decided to focus on their local talent, such as the improved Xavier Cooks, Dejan Vasiljevic, and Angus Glover, while bringing in imports to complement the Australian core. Derrick Walton Jr was signed to replace Adams’ scoring, while sharpshooting centre Tim Soares (via Europe) and former Defensive Player of the Year Justin Simon (via Illawarra) joined the team as the new import trio. Kouat Noi (via Cairns) was also added after Makur Maker left for the NBA, and rookie Jackson Makoi rounded out the roster.

Sydney kicked off their campaign for back-to-back titles with wins over Illawarra, Brisbane, and Melbourne, going 3-0. The 20-point win over Melbourne (91-71) was especially impressive, featuring a 25-0 run in the second quarter where the Kings held United to just six points. This victory extended Sydney’s road winning streak to 15, setting a new NBL record, surpassing the mark set by Canberra’s back-to-back championship teams of the mid-1980s.

The Kings’ unbeaten streak ended in their next game, an upset loss to the Cairns Taipans (83-78). Despite missing star Tahjere McCall, Cairns played tough defense and capitalized on Sydney’s poor free-throw shooting (14/25). Shannon Scott (16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) and DJ Hogg (15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) led the Taipans, while Vasiljevic contributed 20 points for the Kings, and Cooks (15 points, 8 rebounds) and Walton Jr (14 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists) provided solid efforts.

Sydney bounced back with another road win over Brisbane but suffered another home loss to the Adelaide 36ers (92-88), who had just returned from beating the NBA’s Phoenix Suns in a preseason game. Adelaide’s Craig Randall II (24 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) led all scorers, while Walton Jr contributed 23 points, and Vasiljevic added 15 for the Kings.

Round five saw Sydney narrowly avoid a third consecutive home defeat when Kouat Noi hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to defeat his former team, Cairns (106-103). Cooks nearly recorded a triple-double (18 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists), helping cement the Kings’ spot at the top of the ladder (8-2).

In a highly anticipated first-vs-second matchup against the New Zealand Breakers, Sydney survived a last-quarter comeback to win (81-77). However, the Kings lost Walton Jr to an ankle injury in the first half, and Cooks also injured his ankle, sidelining him for three weeks, including missing the Australian Boomers’ World Cup Qualifier against Kazakhstan.

Without head coach Chase Buford, who was suspended for misconduct, assistant coach Kevin Lisch stepped in as Sydney cruised to a 97-77 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers, dominating inside the paint and shooting a season-high 69% from the field.

Sydney then recorded their biggest-ever franchise win, a 49-point blowout against Brisbane (116-67), which set a new margin record for the 40-minute era.

Though New Zealand and Cairns battled for second place, Sydney finished the regular season on top (19-9), with Xavier Cooks winning NBL MVP (16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists), beating out Bryce Cotton and Mitch Creek. Vasiljevic averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on the season.

Sydney faced Cairns in the semi-finals after the Taipans defeated Perth in the play-in tournament (91-78). Cooks’ 27 points and 14 rebounds led Sydney to a game one win (95-87), but Cairns bounced back to win game two (93-82) in a chaotic contest marked by multiple hard fouls and the ejection of coach Buford. DJ Hogg (25 points) and Tahjere McCall (20 points) spearheaded the win for the Taipans.

In game three, Vasiljevic (15 points, 5 rebounds) stepped up, hitting three key three-pointers to lead the Kings to a series-clinching victory (79-64), with Cooks and Noi contributing double-doubles (11 points and 11 rebounds each).

In the championship series, Sydney faced New Zealand. The Breakers shocked the Kings in game one (95-87) in front of 13,145 fans, with William McDowell-White (19 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists) starring. Walton Jr suffered an injury and played limited minutes for the rest of the series.

Sydney tied the series in game two, despite minimal contributions from Walton Jr (4:50 minutes) and Cooks (9:05 minutes). Simon’s all-around play (12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 steals) and Noi’s 20-point effort helped the Kings win (91-68).

In front of a record NBL crowd of 18,049 at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney took a 2-1 series lead, with Walton Jr (12 points, 9 assists) and Cooks (10 points, 8 rebounds) back in form. The Breakers struggled offensively, shooting just 36% from the field.

New Zealand won game four (80-70), forcing a deciding game five behind Brantley (23 points) and McDowell-White (19 points).

Game five saw the Kings close out the series in front of another record-setting crowd of 18,124. Walton Jr (21 points, 6 assists) earned Championship Series MVP honours, while Cooks added 19 points and 11 rebounds in the 77-69 win.

With a combined 67,811 fans attending the Championship Series, it set a new NBL record for Grand Final attendance.

It was the last game of the season, and it delivered all sorts of drama.

Re-live the best bits thanks to @HungryJacksAU ⤵ pic.twitter.com/KxOiNZnVDW— NBL (@NBL) March 15, 2023

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2023/24
Prior to NBL24, Vasiljevic was granted a release from the Kings to pursue opportunities overseas. “It was a difficult decision, but after winning two championships at my age, an opportunity overseas was hard to pass up,” Vasiljevic said, expressing gratitude to the Kings organisation for their support.

2024/25
A roster refresh saw former captain Mitch McCarron (to New Zealand), Next Star Trentyn Flowers (to NBA), Jacob Wiley (to Spain), Tohi Smith-Milner (to Brisbane), Kyrin Galloway (to Cairns), Trey Kell III (to Illawarra), and Akech Aliir (to Melbourne) all exit the team during the off-season.

Adelaide moved quickly to lock in key pieces from the previous year. Sharpshooter Dejan Vasiljevic re-signed on a new three-year deal and was appointed team captain, while center Isaac Humphries also agreed to a new three-year contract. Young locals Fiston Ipassou and Keanu Rasmussen earned one-year extensions, and swingman Jacob Rigoni inked a two-year contract (with a club option) to remain with the 36ers.

The 36ers retooled with an influx of talent. Versatile forward Lat Mayen (via Cairns), Ben Griscti (via NCAA), and rookie Patrick D’Arcy joined the roster. Import guard Kendric Davis was signed to a one-year deal and handed the team’s primary ball-handling duties.

To flesh out the remaining roster, former Sydney King Jarell Martin (via Turkey) was signed, but injuries would see him miss the start of the season. To help cover the loss of Martin, Adelaide added former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell, which was perhaps the biggest talent signing in NBL history.

Adelaide’s campaign began in shaky fashion. They opened 0–2 in late September, including a 94–102 loss to Sydney in the season opener, before finding their footing in October. The 36ers notched their first win on October 3, beating South East Melbourne 93–83 at home to kickstart a hot streak. That victory sparked a run of five wins in six games, highlighted by an upset road win over the title-favorite Illawarra Hawks. In that October 5 thriller, new import Kendric Davis erupted for 32 points to help edge Illawarra 102–100 in Wollongong.

By late October, the 36ers had transformed their slow start into a 5–3 record. A defining early-season moment came on October 25, when Adelaide prevailed 99–93 in an overtime classic against the Cairns Taipans. In that game, Montrezl Harrell dominated with 36 points and 16 rebounds, carrying the team on his back and showcasing the interior force he’d become. Harrell’s monstrous effort, combined with Davis’s 8 assists in the same contest, gave the 36ers a gritty home win and solidified their confidence. By the end of October, Adelaide sat at 5–3, displaying a potent offense and the ability to win close games.

However, the good times gave way to adversity in November and December. The 36ers hit a rough patch mid-season, losing 7 of 8 games as their record fell from 6–4 to 7–11. Offensive chemistry wavered and defensive lapses emerged – Adelaide conceded over 110 points in several defeats during this stretch. A flashpoint came on November 17 in a road game at Melbourne, which descended into a melee. Montrezl Harrell was ejected after a clash with United players and courtside fans, and he later received a three-game suspension for striking and an altercation. Teammate Kendric Davis was also suspended two games for his role in the post-incident confrontation. Those bans left the 36ers shorthanded, contributing to narrow losses like a 73–77 home defeat to Tasmania on November 30 and an 83–102 loss in Brisbane a week later. Even as Davis poured in a season-high 37 points and 11 assists on December 8 versus Perth, the 36ers couldn’t overcome defensive issues, falling 105–115 in that shootout. By Christmas, Adelaide had dropped to 7–11, struggling to string together stops and missing the leadership of their suspended stars. One bright spot in this slump was a 111–94 home win over New Zealand on December 14, powered by 36 points from Davis, which snapped a four-game losing streak and showed the team’s potential when focused. But inconsistent play and injuries, including a late-season hamstring niggle for Vasiljevic, kept the 36ers from gaining traction as the new year approached.

January 2025 saw a resurgence in Adelaide’s fortunes. With suspensions served and the roster back at full strength, the 36ers played inspired, “desperate” basketball – effectively treating every game as a must-win, as Kendric Davis noted. Kicking off the new year, Adelaide stunned second-place Melbourne United 100–81 on January 4, dominating behind dual 28-point performances from Davis and Harrell. This statement win over an elite opponent ignited the 36ers’ playoff push. Adelaide went 6–2 from late December through late January, climbing back to a 13–13 record. Kendric Davis continued his torrid form, delivering one of the season’s most memorable individual outings on January 10 in Hobart. He erupted for 39 points in an overtime battle against the Tasmania JackJumpers, nearly carrying the 36ers to victory. Although Adelaide fell 103–104 in that heartbreaker, the game proved the team’s resilience and highlighted Davis’s superstar capabilities. The 36ers shook off that setback and rattled off four straight wins in mid-January, including a tense 91–88 home win over Illawarra and a 99–75 road rout of Cairns. In that January 19 contest, Dejan Vasiljevic delivered a season-best performance with 32 points (11-23 FG, 10-21 3PT), four rebounds, and one assist in just over 10 minutes of action.

Another pivotal triumph came on January 24, when Adelaide traveled to Sydney and beat the Kings 105–96. Davis dropped 30 points in that game, while Harrell controlled the paint with 11 rebounds, silencing over 10,000 Kings fans. Vasiljevic again played a key leadership role in the win against his former club. The regular season concluded with the 36ers at 13–15, finishing 6th on the NBL ladder. Adelaide went 9–6 at home but only 4–10 on the road, reflecting some inconsistency away from Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Offensively, they were one of the league’s higher-scoring teams at 97.9 points per game, but defensively they had a negative points differential and a propensity to give up runs (as shown by their 2796 points against). In the final rounds, the 36ers hit a speed bump, dropping their last three regular season games – including a close 89–92 loss to Brisbane on January 31, in which Vasiljevic tallied 20 points (8-20 FG, 4-13 3PT), 10 rebounds, and 4 assists – his only double-double of the season.

Entering the newly instituted play-in tournament, the 36ers carried confidence from their late-season surge. In the play-in qualifier on February 13, Adelaide traveled to Sydney and upset the Kings 95–88, eliminating the defending champions on their home floor. Dejan Vasiljevic – facing his former team – led the scoring with 25 points in the upset win, delivering in one of the most high-stakes games of the season. Harrell chipped in a near triple-double effort (8 points, a team-high 14 rebounds, and a team-high 7 assists) to fuel the 36ers. That victory advanced Adelaide to the final play-in game against South East Melbourne Phoenix for a spot in the semifinals. Just three nights later, the 36ers’ season came to an end in the play-in decider, falling 75–85 on the road to Phoenix. Kendric Davis tallied 26 points in the loss and Harrell grabbed 14 rebounds, but the team ran out of gas offensively, shooting poorly in a grinding defensive affair.

Kendric Davis (25.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists) was Adelaide’s engine all season, leading the league in both scoring and assists while earning All-NBL First Team honours. Montrezl Harrell (20.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists) anchored the frontcourt with dominant interior play and was rewarded with All-NBL Second Team recognition. Dejan Vasiljevic (18.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists) embraced the captaincy role and emerged as one of the NBL’s premier local shooting guards, averaging over 2.5 made three-pointers per game while spacing the floor for Davis and Harrell, defending top perimeter threats, and delivering in high-stakes moments such as the play-in win over Sydney. Isaac Humphries (12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) provided consistent interior scoring and rim protection, appearing in every game. Jarell Martin (8.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.6 assists across 20 games) served as a rotation big before injuries curtailed his contributions late in the season.

Dejan Vasiljevic currently plays for the Adelaide 36ers and has played 176 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists since entering the league in 2021.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Adelaide 36ers – 1 Year Deal (2026-27)

HIGHLIGHTS:

The set back to the ultimate comeback.

DJ Vasiljevic’s journey to a championship and now a new contract was something else 👑🏆@3jvasiljevic @SydneyKings #NBL23 pic.twitter.com/mts8dm9yBr

— The NBL (@NBL) May 31, 2022