So far, 41 Serbian basketball players have been selected in NBA Draft history. Of course, not all of them played in the world’s strongest league, but those who did mostly left a lasting mark. Here’s a complete list of all Serbian players drafted into the NBA — and a look at the highest picks.
You can also check out our article on all Serbian players who have played in the NBA:
All Serbian NBA Players: Complete List of Serbs Who Played in the NBA
Milovan Rakovic – 60th pick
We start from the lowest-ranked — Milovan Raković. The player from Užice was selected with the very last pick of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. His draft rights were later traded several times: to Orlando, Chicago, and Portland. Although he never played in the NBA, he appeared in the EuroLeague for Siena and Žalgiris.
WELCOME TO PORTLAND MILOVAN RAKOVIC! #RipCity pic.twitter.com/K2zRs2QQni
— Fire Neil Olshey (@FireNeilOlshey) February 8, 2018
Luka Mitrovic – 60th pick
Another, much better-known player picked last is Luka Mitrović, longtime captain of Crvena zvezda. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2015, who later traded his rights to Sacramento, and in 2023 the rights were acquired by the LA Clippers in exchange for Filip Petrušev.
Definicija zvezdaštva – Luka Mitrović!
Hvala za sve i srećno!#kkcz pic.twitter.com/bEZRSdIBwz
— Dečko opasnih namera (@papadubi___) July 2, 2025
Vanja Marinkovic – 60th pick
In the 2019 NBA Draft, Vanja Marinković was also taken with the final pick by the Sacramento Kings. His rights were later held by the Clippers, Memphis, and currently Brooklyn.
Bio je kapiten Partizana kada niko drugi nije smeo, onda kad je klub bio na kolenima. Danas kada su građani Srbije na kolenima javno je podržao zdravu priču zvanu – ProGlas.
Reprezentativac SRBIJE i bivši igrač PARTIZANA – VANJA MARINKOVIĆ!Pobediće normalnost. 🟢 pic.twitter.com/dFir4Xan0U
— Александар Максимовић (@amaksimovic1) November 22, 2023
Ognjen Jaramaz – 58th pick
Selected by the New York Knicks with the 58th pick in 2017, Jaramaz played for their Summer League team that year but never signed an NBA contract.
“Period proveden u Partizanu predstavlja najlepši period dosadašnjeg toka moje karijere”.
– Ognjen Jaramaz pic.twitter.com/xoNLwcKwHP
— Snikpe Grobar (@SnikpeGrobar) January 25, 2023
Nikola Radicevic – 57th pick
Nikola Radicevic reportedly joining Cedevita Olimpija #NikolaRadicevic #CedevitaOlimpija #BKTEuroCup pic.twitter.com/fKDw1DnY25
— EuroRumor (@EurorumoR) August 25, 2023
Balsa Koprivica – 57th pick
Nous avons envoyé du cash à Detroit pour avoir les droits de draft de Balsa Koprivica. pic.twitter.com/kr8cg327mE
— Clippers Martinique 🇲🇶⛵️ (@Clippers_MQ) July 1, 2023
Zeljko Rebraca – 54th pick
RANDOM ATHLETE OF THE DAY: Željko Rebrača, C (NBA – 2001-05)
TEAMS: Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers
FUN FACT: Rebrača was involved in the trade that sent All-Star forward Rasheed Wallace from Atlanta to Detroit. pic.twitter.com/qANEeMN2p2
— Random Athlete of the Day (@2DaysRandomAth) June 11, 2024
Milan Macvan – 54th pick
Milan Mačvan nakon odluke da završi profesionalnu karijeru
“Doneo sam tešku odluku posle racionalnog razmišljanja. Nisam želeo da završim karijeru kao povređen igrač već da pokušam da je završim kako sam i počeo – kao pobednik i šampion”, rekao je bivši kapiten Srbije. pic.twitter.com/C2VqoqqQgw
— NBA Serbia (@NBASrbija) June 1, 2020
Nemanja Dangubic – 54th pick
🏀 Bayern Münih’ten ayrılan Nemanja Dangubic, gelecek sezon için Estudiantes’e imza attı.
📊 Nemanja Dangubic (2018-19 Euroleague sezonu)
14:49 dakika
4.2 sayı
2.4 ribaunt
3.9 PIR pic.twitter.com/diVnP9QHTO— Hızlı Hücum (@hizlihucum) July 19, 2019
Tadija Dragicevic – 53rd pick
The story of Tadija Dragićević’s NBA rights deserves its own article. Drafted by the Utah Jazz in 2008, his rights were later traded to Dallas, Chicago, Houston, and New York. He retired in 2019.
Tadija Dragićević is back in #ABALiga – he joined @KKBuducnostVOLI. #košarka #basketball pic.twitter.com/Obep8QxD8H
— Yugobasket (@yugobasket) September 24, 2015
Ognjen Kuzmic – 52nd pick
Ognjen Kuzmić (2013-2015):
Golden State Warriors (2013-2015) pic.twitter.com/67TIslSTIV— Random NBA Players (@RandomNBAHoops) February 20, 2024
Vasilije Micic – 52nd pick
Vasilije Micic (18 PTS) has over half (56.3%) of the Hornets points (32) at halftime 😳@hornetsmuse_ pic.twitter.com/StKv9AFWyP
— Aaron Wiggins Muse ⚡️ (@awiggmuse) March 20, 2024
Dejan Bodiroga – 51st pick
By many accounts, Dejan Bodiroga is the greatest European player who never played in the NBA. He was selected 51st overall by the Sacramento Kings in 1995.
Dejan Bodiroga 9 years stretch, from 1995 to 2003:
Eurobasket 1995 🥇
Olympic Games 1996 🥈
Eurobasket 1997 🥇
World Cup 1998 🥇
Eurobasket 1999 🥉
EuroLeague 2000 🏆
Eurobasket 2001 🥇
EuroLeague 2002 🏆
World Cup 2002 🥇
EuroLeague 2003 🏆Best non NBA player ever! pic.twitter.com/XTbVuEonVs
— Vassilis Papandreou (@sili81) March 4, 2024
Igor Rakocevic – 51st pick
Milos Babic – 50th pick
Filip Petrusev – 50th pick
LA Clippers are trading center Filip Petrusev and cash to the Sacramento Kings, reports @wojespn pic.twitter.com/G70lXBVKeK
— NBArepublic.com (@nba_republic) November 1, 2023
Bogoljub Markovic – 47th pick
Bogoljub Markovic will become just the second Serbian to suit up for the Bucks, joining Miroslav Raduljica (2010). pic.twitter.com/sCgZdUoicf
— BucksRealm (@BucksRealm) June 27, 2025
Predrag Danilovic – 43rd pick
Mile Ilic – 43rd pick
Nikola Djurisic – 43rd pick
ATL’s newest playmaker, Nikola Djurisic! pic.twitter.com/Fhmvt6zZWa
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) June 27, 2024
Tristan Vukcevic – 42nd pick
WHERE IS TRISTAN VUKCEVIC? We saw him DOMINATE in real NBA minutes. Tristan Vukcevic is more NBA ready than Alex Sarr and that’s a fact. The Washington Wizards and Capital City Go-Go played November 10th (believe it or not my 21st bday), Vukcevic wasn’t active on either roster..? pic.twitter.com/9RMmCmhXz6
— manniq (@Manns99Liam) November 12, 2024
Nikola Jokic – 41st pick
From being the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Nikola Jokić has earned two season MVP plums and had just led his Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA title.
📸 Denver Nuggets#NBAonOneSports #AlwaysAFan pic.twitter.com/C2JszzOzra
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) June 13, 2023
Check out who among Serbian basketball players has won an NBA championship ring:
Alen Smailagic – 39th pick
December 2019 before covid Alen Smailagic was averaging 17.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals, & 1.3 blocks on 48.6% shooting for the Santa Cruz Warriors
He was the youngest player in history to play in the G League
He played in Santa Cruz the year before he was drafted by GSW https://t.co/Ob4EouIdR9 pic.twitter.com/kcdiosI6OV
— Heritage Hoops (@HHjournalism) September 27, 2024
Kosta Perovic – 38th pick
Milos Vujanic – 36th pick
Milos Vujanic
Si no hubiese sido por las lesiones… pic.twitter.com/XOTfIBvOGB
— Alvarovic (@alvarovic10) May 12, 2025
Nemanja Bjelica – 35th pick
Dete Zvezde i nekadašnji mvp Evrolige, Nemanja Bjelica, potpisao je otvoreni ugovor sa Crvenom zvezdom. On će biti deo ekipe za narednu sezonu. KKCZ ima opciju da ga otpusti u bilo kom momentu bez naknade. Fener plaća 80 % ugovora. Zvezda nema šta da izgubi a može mnogo da dobije pic.twitter.com/G8sVAkUxmZ
— Večiti abrovi (@VVeciti) September 11, 2023
Rade Zagorac – 35th pick
Dragan Tarlac – 31st pick
Marko Jaric – 30th pick
RANDOM NBA PLAYER:
Marko Jarić, PG/SG (2002-2009)Los Angeles Clippers (2002-2005)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2005-2008)
Memphis Grizzlies (2008-2009)Career Averages: 7.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.6 APG#NBA pic.twitter.com/lv8jSPjJP7
— Random NBA Players (@RandomNBAHoops) March 16, 2024
Nemanja Nedovic – 30th pick
Bogdan Bogdanovic – 27th pick
REŠETA SRPSKA HAUBICA! 🇷🇸❤️🏀
Bogdan Bogdanović u pobedi Klipersa nad Klivlendom, najboljim timom NBA lige – perfektnih 100% šuta iz igre!
20 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST, 8-8 FG, 4-4 3PT pic.twitter.com/acKsmlHcag
— Wolfy 🇷🇸 (@BigBadWolfWolfy) March 19, 2025
Nikola Jovic – 27th pick
Nikola Jovic’s transformation over the last 3 years has been crazy.
6’10 209 ➡️ 6’11 245.
Year 4 Jovic will be scary. pic.twitter.com/22m2drVzPz
— 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 (@WadexFlash) August 7, 2025
Vlade Divac – 26th pick
acabei de descobrir que meu camarada Vlade Divac lançou esse outfit aqui de “professor frustrado do ensino médio com problemas com álcool e a ex esposa” no Draft de 1989
aura (de maluco). pic.twitter.com/AlHbpmHnOz
— fumante de OKC (@OKCigarro) June 27, 2025
Divac was also a pioneer of acting among Serbian basketball players — more about that in another article:
Nikola Milutinov – 26th pick
The highest-ranked Serbian player never to play in the NBA is Nikola Milutinov.
O Nikola Milutinov έχει χάσει 11 κιλά από την επιστροφή του από τους Ολυμπιακός Αγώνες, σύμφωνα με τον @mstef80 pic.twitter.com/amc07NzC0H
— Gavros Bartzokikos (@SashaMeine) October 22, 2024
Nenad Krstic – 24th pick
RANDOM ATHLETE OF THE DAY: Nenad Krstić, C (NBA – 2004-11)
TEAMS: New Jersey Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics
FUN FACT: Krstić owns and operates a distillery — Krstić Distillery — in his native Serbia. pic.twitter.com/VEvPDCKzL4
— Random Athlete of the Day (@2DaysRandomAth) June 17, 2025
Aleksandar Pavlovic – 19th pick
Never thought I’d see LeBron miss Sasha Pavlovic. pic.twitter.com/9TfmejeM20
— Stef Fanski (@Oh__Cleveland) June 4, 2021
Aleksej Pokusevski – 17th pick
Aleksej Pokusevski against the Nuggets tonight:
38 PTS
12 REB
14 AST
4 BLK
1 STL
17/23 FGAnother OKC draft steal? pic.twitter.com/F3WMSixHSv
— BK (@OKCThunderWave) May 8, 2025
Predrag Stojakovic – 14th pick
On this day in 1999
21-year old Peja Stojaković made his NBA debut with the Kings 💜 pic.twitter.com/BuSLllm34T
— NBA Serbia (@NBASrbija) February 5, 2024
Vladimir Radmanovic – 12th pick
RANDOM ATHLETE OF THE DAY: Vladimir Radmanović, F (NBA – 2001-12)
TEAMS: Seattle SuperSonics, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Bobcats, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls
FUN FACT: He helped Yugoslavia win gold at the 2002 FIBA Championships. pic.twitter.com/oRTSdP1XDz
— Random Athlete of the Day (@2DaysRandomAth) April 27, 2025
Nikola Topic – 12th pick
O Draft da NBA consolidou a evolução Pokémon mais satisfatória da história de uma liga de esportes. Obrigado por tanto, Sérvia.
Nikola Topic – 18 anos, 1,98m
Nikola Jovic – 21 anos, 2,08m
Nikola Jokic – 29 anos, 2,12m pic.twitter.com/FqCS3eeoiA— Pedro Suaide (@suaidepe) June 27, 2024
Darko Milicic – 2nd pick
Ain’t nobody concerned that Will Dawkins will fuck this franchise and pull a Pistons ’03 draft pick the equivalent of Darko Milicic, Nolan Traoré. Over Bron, Wade, and Bosh.
Corny ass bum pic.twitter.com/sxKzC1IU7d— LTWF (@LTWizFan) October 5, 2024
