James Harden Explains Why Mario Hezonja Could Fill Cavaliers’ Missing Role

Mario Hezonja gives the Cleveland Cavaliers something they lacked last season, James Harden said after practice Tuesday.

Cleveland signed Hezonja on July 31, after LeBron James picked Philadelphia in free agency. Hezonja had been in Europe for more than five years. If he is still on the roster Nov. 15, his deal becomes fully guaranteed, Sports Illustrated's Cavaliers site has reported.

Harden wants to help Hezonja figure out his role and where he is comfortable.

"I can only imagine how difficult it is for him, just having this thing here and then going overseas and killing — finding himself — and then having to find a role on the team," Harden said. "So I think just pouring more into him, trying to help him figure out his role and where he's comfortable at."

"Because he is very, very good, and he's skilled, and he can help us. He has a dynamic that we were missing this last year," Harden continued. "So getting downhill, being able to shoot, being able to pass the basketball, physicality at his size. So just trying to figure out, help him get a little bit more comfortable, because I know how difficult it can be. So it's a growing relationship."

Barcelona signed Hezonja in July 2012, when he was 17. Orlando took him fifth overall three years later.

Over 330 regular-season games with the Magic, the New York Knicks, and the Portland Trail Blazers, he averaged 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds. New York signed him July 6, 2018, and Portland did the same on July 3, 2019. His last NBA minutes came in the Orlando bubble in August 2020. Portland played five playoff games there.

That November, the Blazers traded him to Memphis. The Grizzlies cut him Dec. 11.

Panathinaikos came next. Then Unics Kazan, and in 2022, Real Madrid.

Hezonja put up 44 points over two games at the EuroLeague Final Four in May. Nobody there scored more. In Spain's Liga ACB, he averaged 17.5 points and was named MVP.

Real Madrid's honors list for him includes a EuroLeague title, three Liga ACB championships, a Greek league title, and a Greek Cup. Born Feb. 25, 1995, in Dubrovnik, he has played for Croatia. He wears No. 33 in Cleveland.

Harden made a similar point to Marca earlier this month. RealCavsFans.com published the English translation.

Hezonja thinks Harden has two Hall of Fame careers in one, one at shooting guard and one at the point.

Hezonja has said his role is up to the coaching staff and to the players who have been in Cleveland longest.

"I don't need to prove anything," Hezonja said at media day Sept. 28. "I just need to give. This is my mentality. I think everybody knows what it is. I'm not even coming here with my mentality of who I am back in Europe and what I mean to that continent, but something new. And I feel like I don't need anything to prove."

"Obviously, the terminology is proving, yes. Every game is for proving yourself, and to proving everybody that you can do it, that you're the best, that you can do this better, that you can do that, that constantly is this," Hezonja added. "But the mentality is giving, giving to this team, giving to this coach, giving to my teammates, just giving back what they invested in me."

Cleveland's offseason departures included Dean Wade, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, Keon Ellis, who left in free agency, and Max Strus, who went to the Los Angeles Clippers in the trade that brought Peyton Watson to Cleveland. Cleveland also sent Dennis Schröder to the Charlotte Hornets for Tre Mann.

Harden arrived in a Feb. 4 trade with the Clippers. He signed a new three-year, $97 million contract with Cleveland in August.

Thursday's opener is in Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Brooklyn visits Rocket Arena on Saturday.