Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Omar Cook believes Mario Hezonja is returning to the NBA with significantly more confidence after establishing himself as a high-level player in Europe.
“He’s always been a great talent,” Cook told Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “What we’re getting back, he’s coming off an MVP season, so his confidence is super through the roof.”
Hezonja, 31, is returning to the NBA after five seasons with the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers from 2015-16 through 2019-20. He averaged 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 330 NBA games, shooting 41.7% from the field and 31.9% from three-point range.
His development in Europe has produced a much larger offensive role. Hezonja averaged 13.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 38 EuroLeague games for Real Madrid in 2025-26, while shooting 42.7% from the field and 30.2% from three-point range.
In Liga Endesa play, Hezonja averaged 17.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 28 games, shooting 46.5% from the field and 36.6% from three-point range. He also converted 90.2% of his free throws.
Cook, who spent 17 years playing professionally across the NBA and Europe, believes Hezonja’s European experience will be important as he adjusts to Cleveland’s system.
“If you’re on a high-level EuroLeague team, there is no one-on-one basketball,” Cook said. “It’s really focused on the team aspect and team sport.”
That experience could give Hezonja a different profile from the player who entered the NBA as the fifth overall pick in the 2015 draft. During his five NBA seasons, he averaged at least 8.8 points in only two campaigns, with his highest scoring average coming at 9.6 points per game for Orlando in 2017-18.
Cleveland is bringing Hezonja into a team that went 52-30 in 2025-26 and reached the Eastern Conference Finals before being swept 4-0 by the New York Knicks. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers at 27.9 points and 5.7 assists per game, while Evan Mobley averaged 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds.
Mitchell subsequently signed a four-year extension worth up to $273 million, keeping Cleveland’s core intact as the organization continues its push to remain near the top of the Eastern Conference.
Cook also emphasized the importance of Hezonja’s confidence after his European success.
“I think him coming off such a great season brings a swagger and confidence, but also some type of humility after going through what he went through to now coming back to the NBA,” Cook said.
