Former Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic talked about his relationship with his "best friend," Wizards center Tristan Vukcevic
With the draft lottery complete and the NBA combine unfolding this week through interviews with both coaches and media, along with scrimmages, the Washington Wizards have found themselves to be a constant in the national headlines with speculation about who the front office will take with the first pick - or whether they hang onto the first pick.
That conversation is only in its early stages with still over one month until the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft begins as Wizards fan keep tabs on whether AJ Dybantsa can hold off Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer and Caleb Wilson for the first overall pick. Yet there's another NBA Draft prospect who has a close connection to one current Wizard: former Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic.
Andrej, the son of former Kings sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic, is viewed as a likely second round pick after averaging double figures scoring for the second straight season. Stojakovic did so while shooting 50% from the field in 2025-26 in addition to eclipsing 80% free throw shooting for the second straight year.
Andrej ended his season scoring double figures in six of his last eight games before UConn held off Illinois, 71-62, in the Final Four.
ESPN projected the former sharpshooter to land with the Golden State Warriors with the 54th pick in the second round, smack dab in the middle of two second round picks that the Wizards own. Yet whether Andrej's relationship with fellow Serbian and Wizards center Tristan Vukcevic carries any weight through the evaluation process will be an intriguing storyline, though Andrej pointed to the constant contact between the two.
"Tristan is one of my best friends. When I lived in Athens when I was younger, we were very close. We talk frequently. He's been asking me constantly this week how the process is going at the combine," Stojakovic told Chase Hughes about Vukcevic. "That's my guy. Hopefully one day I get a chance to play with him. I support him from afar."
Of course, Vukcevic proved to be an integral part of the end of the 2025-26 season for the Wizards after he averaged nine points and three rebounds in just 13.7 minutes per game, but it was enough to prove himself as a dependable piece in the rotation. The Wizards also re-signed Vukcevic to a new three year deal, one of several players to do so, with a chance to upgrade the end of the rotation this offseason.
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