It wasn't too long ago that Milos Teodosic looked like the next European prodigy to venture into the NBA, yet his stint with the L.A. Clippers was short-lived, getting 36 starts in his first year in the league and quickly fading into obscurity this past season.
The Serbian dynamo was fresh off a rousing showing in the 2016 Rio Olympics, but raised a few questions as a then-30-year-old crossing over from the Euroleague to the NBA.
Teodosic would still recommend others to cross over to the NBA, just not as late as he did — ultimately regretting nothing when it comes to his venture into a foreign system.
“I think it’s individual. In any case, not too late as I did. I think I came to the US too late,” said Teodosic, according to Stefan Djordjevic of EuroHoops. “Years with which Bogdan [Bogdanovic] came are ideal. Some 24, 25 when you already did something in Europe, when you’ve matured and arrived with self-confidence which is very important. I think those are the ideal years.”
Young players like Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis have flourished after playing overseas the first few years of his career, yet others like Juan Carlos Navarro and Pablo Prigioni haven't been able to get much out of their careers after coming in their 30s — especially in a league that favors youth and athleticism over experience.
Yet Teodosic didn't want to regret not coming to the NBA and living to ask himself “what if?” as his career comes to a close.
“I didn’t want to end my career and regret later on, to feel sorry that I didn’t come and see how it is. How everything functions here, the way they worked and the way basketball is played. It is completely different than Europe, the way basketball is played. One great experience for me.”
Milos Teodosic averaged eight points and four assists in his last season in the NBA, playing an average of 10 minutes in 15 games in 2018-19.
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