Grbović, the Montenegrin big, brings size, shooting, and experience to Steve Lutz’s up-tempo system as Cowboys replace one Andrija with another
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State basketball continued its transfer portal strategy towards the end of April, landing 6-foot-11 forward Andrija Grbovic from Arizona State.
The Montenegrin stretch big committed to the Cowboys for the 2026-27 season, giving head coach Steve Lutz another piece of length and perimeter skill in a frontcourt that has undergone significant turnover.
Cowboy basketball replaces one Andrija with another. Serbian-Montenegrin big man Andrija Vukovic, who spent his first two college seasons in Stillwater, entered the portal earlier in April and later committed to George Washington.
Vukovic provided energy and interior presence off the bench in 2025-26 (5.3 points, 3.4 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game).
Grbović, another 6-foot-11 European product with pro experience, now steps into a similar but more perimeter-oriented role. Both players share Montenegrin roots and international pedigrees, but Grbovic arrives as a proven floor-spacer ready to contribute immediately in Lutz’s system.
Grbovic’s journey to the Big 12 is a common Euro to the States move. Born September 16, 2003, in Pljevlja, Montenegro, he began his professional career at age 15 with OrangeAcademy Ratiopharm in Germany.
He later suited up for clubs across the Adriatic League, including OKK Beograd, Mega Basket, Budućnost, and most recently Studentski centar (SC Derby). His youth career peaked in 2022 when he led his team to the Junior ABA League championship while earning MVP honors and a spot on the Ideal Starting Five.
That same year he helped Montenegro qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup European Qualifiers. Grbovic also played alongside incoming OSU commit Luka Bogavac on a European club team, creating instant chemistry potential in Stillwater.
At Arizona State in 2025-26, Grbovic appeared in all 33 games and started 27, averaging 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 19.8 minutes per game. He shot 40.4% from the field, 35.0% from three-point range (on 3.7 attempts per game), and 78.9% from the free-throw line. While his scoring output was modest, he carved out value as a reliable stretch forward who could knock down open threes and provide serviceable defense on the perimeter and in help situations.
Prior to ASU he posted 7.9 points per game on 45.9% three-point shooting in 24 ABA League games during the 2024-25 season.
Grbovic’s style of play aligns quite nicely with what Steve Lutz has built at Oklahoma State. Lutz’s teams emphasize up-tempo pace, quick transition opportunities, and an offense that thrives on spacing and early shots, averaging just 16.2 seconds per possession in recent campaigns.
As a 6-foot-11 forward who can legitimately stretch the floor, Grbovic gives Lutz a stretch 4 or small-ball 5 who can drag defenders out of the paint, open driving lanes for guards, and punish help side rotations. His length also improves a defensive identity that Lutz has repeatedly called the program’s biggest area for growth.
While Grbovic isn’t an elite rim protector, his mobility, instincts, and experience as a team defender fit the high-intensity, fundamentals first approach Lutz demands in practice.
For the 2026-27 season, Grbovic becomes OSU’s fourth major portal addition, joining transfers Kashie Natt, Luka Bogavac, and Jacob Walker.
The Cowboys now have an intriguing mix of size, international talent, and veteran experience in a frontcourt that previously lacked consistent outside shooting.
Grbovic’s two remaining years of eligibility provide Lutz with continuity and a player who has already competed against Big 12 competition. His arrival should improve offensive efficiency by adding a secondary creator and spacer while helping the team maintain tempo without sacrificing rebounding or defensive versatility.
In a conference as physical and guard-heavy as the Big 12, Grbovic’s blend of length, shooting touch, and professional maturity could prove important for a new look Cowboy squad.
Oklahoma State fans have grown accustomed to seeing European/Eastern European/Middle Eastern talent thrive under recent coaching staffs, and Grbovic, already familiar with the league’s speed from his ASU stint, appears ready to make an immediate impact.
As Lutz continues reshaping the roster around toughness, pace, and defensive accountability, the addition of Andrija Grbovic was a clear need and transfer grab. The Cowboys are building a frontcourt that can both stretch and protect, one three-pointer and one stop at a time.