Vezenkov closes the door on NBA return: Timberwolves inquired before Kuminga trade, Olympiacos remains home

Sasha Vezenkov remains deeply committed to his thriving career on the European continent, yet the NBA continues to echo in the background. According to The Stein Line on Tuesday, the Minnesota Timberwolves recently explored the logistical feasibility of trying to persuade the two-time Most Valuable Player of the EuroLeague to give the league one more try. Per the report, the inquiry transpired just prior to the Minneapolis franchise finalizing their acquisition of athletic forward Jonathan Kuminga. However, a formal contract proposal from the Wolves never materialized, primarily because the veteran forward indicated quite early in the process that he harbored no desire to return across the Atlantic. For 31-year-old Vezenkov, his immediate Olympiacos chapter is settled in a place where he feels valued, comfortable, and supported by deep personal roots. When reflecting on whether he experiences nostalgia, or if there exists any underlying probability that fans might witness his return to the NBA, he offered a deeply grounded perspective on his current reality. "It's tough now because here is my family, my life," the Bulgarian international expressed during the interview with The Stein Line. "With Olympiacos we won a lot of stuff. But in my life, I know it's better to never say never." His outlook stems directly from an underwhelming debut campaign during the 2026–24 Regular Season with the Sacramento Kings. Operating under the tactical direction of head coach Mike Brown, he found himself relegated to a minor role, averaging 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest across 42 appearances off the bench while logging a mere 12.2 minutes per outing. Despite failing to carve out a permanent home in California, he evaluates that turbulent timeframe with maturity rather than harboring lingering bitterness toward the organization. "Sometimes I think it was not a fair chance from both sides," he mentioned. "But I don't regret it all. It was a great experience." If the decorated forward harbors any lingering remorse regarding his brief stint abroad, it relates strictly to the biological timing of his leap rather than the environment itself. Entering the league as an established superstar in Europe presents vastly different challenges than navigating the ranks as a developmental prospect. "Maybe I regret I didn't do it earlier in my career at a younger age. But the experience I take with me forever," he pointed out. "I learned a lot. I improved my game. I improved my whole vision of the game. Sometimes, even a bad experience helps."