Depending on where you’re located, either we’re really late to the game or you could be hearing about Nikola Peković for the first time.
Though the 6-10 center from Montenegro (which used to be Serbia & Montengro, which used to be part of Yugoslavia) is only 23 years old, Peković is no longer considered an up-and-coming player, but a full on star in the Euroleague.
Nikola has already helped Partizan Belgrade to three Serbian League Championships (2006, 2007, 2008), two Adriatic League Championships (2007, 2008), and the Serbian Cup in 2008. He was the Adriatic League’s Final Four MVP in 2008 and named to the All-Euroleague 2nd Team during the 2007-08 campaign.
He also was honored as Interbasket’s Under-22 Rising Star in 2007 beating out the likes of Ricky Rubio and Kostas Koufos. From there, Pekovic signed with Panathinaikos B.C. and was selected 31st overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Pekovic’s contract with the Greek team will likely keep the hulking center in Europe until at least 2010 and he shows no real desire to go to the NBA as of yet.
“I don’t think now about NBA. I really don’t like to speak about it,” Pekovic told BallinEurope in January 2009. “I am very happy in Panathinaikos right now and I don’t think about the NBA.”
Nikola Pekovic got his chance after the departure of veteran frontcourt Partizan players Kosta Perovic (to the NBA) and Predrag Drobnjak (to the ACB). That gave the then 21-year old Pekovic the opportunity to display his skills.
He didn’t waste any time. Pekovic dropped 29 points on 13-14 shooting in the first game of his breakout season and was named MVP of Euroleague Week One of the 2007-08 season.
Classic Center
Pekovic is schooled in the more classic sense. He isn’t a jump out of the gym-kind of guy, and he himself recognizes that. Nikola knows how to get things done around the basket with what he has and what Pekovic has is a wide 6-11, 247lb frame trained to move without the ball, with an affinity for hook shots, mid-range jumpers, putbacks, and dunks – definitely a big reason why Pekovic is always hanging around 65% from the field.
Many of Peković’s points come in the point after strong position. Pekovic uses his solid base to continually bump his defender for better position or simply pinning a smaller defender with his body. He creates even more space by turning over his left shoulder for his favorite right-handed shot. Once the large Montenegrin gets the ball down low and a double-team doesn’t come, he is very tough to stop with the combination of his physical attributes, body separation, soft hands, and a nice touch.
Though Pekovic’s vision is above-average, his passes lack zip and that will certainly be an issue if he wants to continue his career in the NBA without turning over the ball. He is much like Yao Ming in this manner, a willingness to pass, but his passes lack strength. Another weakness of Pekovic’s is his ability to create around the basket, relying almost solely on using his bulk and a couple dribbles to create space. And despite his size, he doesn’t block many shots.
But being a dominant player in the rough Euroleague at such a young age has certainly opened some eyes. In his fourth season, his first with Panathinaikos, Pekovic’s stats have regressed some averaging just 12.1 pts and 3.7 rebounds after averaging career highs of 16.4 points and 6.9 rebounds.
Links and Resources: Interbasket’s 2007 Under-22 Rising Star (Interbasket), Nikola Pekovic: “I don´t think about the NBA now!” (BallinEurope.com), Nikola Pekovic Draft Profile (DraftExpress.com), Nikola Pekovic Euroleague Profile (Euroelague.net)
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