What does Nemanja Popović add to Memphis' roster?

Memphis added its 15th player to the roster on Saturday with the addition of Serbian forward Nemanja Popović. The forward joins the team after spending last season with King Szczecin in the top Polish league, where he was teammates with former Tiger Malcolm Dandridge.

Popović led his team in points, rebounds and blocks during the 2025-26 season, and his addition adds more depth to the frontcourt and another solid rebounder for Memphis. 

Here’s a look at what Popović will add to the Tigers’ roster:

More experience

At 24-years-old, Popović has played professional basketball since 2019, and he has experience in multiple European leagues, including the Adriatic League. Earlier this year, NoCeilings listed the Adriatic League as the 20th basketball competition in the country, ranking higher than the SEC.

He didn’t play much in the Adriatic League, but the Serbian KLS league was ranked in the top 50, putting it around some college basketball conferences. In the Serbian league, Popović averaged 14.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and two assists per game. 

The experience overseas should help him transition to the American game quicker than most newcomers would.

Rebounding

Since starting his professional career, the forward has averaged 4.8 or more rebounds for five of the seven seasons he has played. Popović has a wide wingspan, and he uses his length to be a factor on the boards.

The forward averaged 6.4 rebounds per game last season, leading his team, and that rebounding should translate to the college game.

His reported height varies, but most outlets list him at 6-foot-8, while EuroBasket lists him at 6-foot-9. Either way, he will be one of the tallest players on the roster, and the Tigers will rely on him to make an impact in the rebounding category. 

Offensive spark in the frontcourt

Popović looks like he can make an impact on the offensive end of the court as well. He has averaged 10 or more points in four seasons, and he averaged 14.3 points and 1.2 assists last year for King Szczecin in the Polish PLK league, leading the team. 

The forward isn’t a three-point shooter, but he has shown that he can score multiple ways. Popović can get the ball at the perimeter and take it to the rim, or he can score with his back to the basket. 

He has also shown that he can be effective in the pick-and-roll, which should factor in well in Hardaway’s system.

The Unknown

Anytime you add an international prospect, there is a lot of unknown that comes with it. Most people aren’t familiar with the leagues or teams, and that can make it tough to predict what a player will be. 

At face value, Popović has had a lot of success on multiple different teams in different countries, and it’s safe to believe he should be able to make an impact for the Tigers. The forward only has one year of eligibility, and it’s likely Hardaway will plug him into the rotation early.