Dejan Vasiljevic signs three-year deal with Sydney Kings

He’s back. 

The Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings are pleased to announce championship shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic has re-signed for another three years. 

The new deal is for two years with a mutual option on the third year and includes European and NBA outs. 

After signing with the Kings to launch his pro career in 2020, DJ has become a much-loved fan favourite and was an integral part of the starting line-up in the NBL22 championship team. 

“For ‘CP’ (Chris Pongrass, CEO), Chase (Buford, Head Coach), Luc (Longley, Special Advisor) and the ownership group to see me as an important piece, I was always going to try and continue to play for this great club,” DJ said. 

“I remain loyal. I said: ‘It was the Sydney Kings or nowhere’. 

“Sydney is a second home to me. My parents’ house (in Melbourne) is number one, but Sydney is next.” 

After rupturing his Achiles tendon while putting together a stellar rookie season, DJ returned last season and worked his way back to form over the course of the NBL22 season. 

He finished the season averaging 12 points a game but will go down in history for hitting the shot that helped win the Kings the championship against the Tasmania JackJumpers - a clutch three-pointer late in the game to give the Kings victory in game two in Hobart. 

“Obviously I am going to be enemy number one down in Tassie,” he said. 

“I’m really looking forward to going back to Hobart again and re-engaging in that rivalry, I really enjoy those moments. 

“The biggest thing now though is getting a good pre-season into the legs.” 

DJ is playing in the NBL1 with Diamond Valley but will continue to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA. 

“I feel like I can do things in the NBA,” he said. 

“I’ll prepare well for summer league and then if the NBA doesn’t work out, I’ll be back with the Kings.” 

DJ is looking forward to continuing his love affair with the Sydney fans and in fact it was he who pushed the “Pack the Q” slogan which became an unofficial catchphrase of the club, referring to fans packing out Qudos Bank Arena. 

“I might trademark it,” he said with a laugh. 

“Sydney is a football and rugby league town, but I feel like we’ve brought basketball back and to have 16,000 fans there for game three of the grand final was unreal. 

“That’s why we play. To inspire the fans and young kids who want to follow in our footsteps. We appreciate all our fans.” 

Kings CEO Chris Pongrass said the re-signing of the former University of Miami guard was an important step for the defending champions. 

“Getting DJ re-signed was one of our priorities this off-season – continuity is something we preach every year and with DJ’s signing we have a core local group from the championship team committed” Pongrass said. 

“DJ has become a fan favourite in Sydney and is someone we are intent on building around in the future. Getting him back on board helps cement our foundations as we continue to build towards defending our title in NBL23.” 

DJ joins Shaun Bruce, Angus Glover, Biwali Bayles, Jordan Hunter and Jaylin Galloway on the Kings roster for next season. Next Star Makur Maker will test the waters in the NBA Draft before a decision is made on his return to the Kings.