Sasha Vezenkov’s NBA career lasted only one season, but the Olympiacos star believes his experience with the Sacramento Kings ultimately made him a better player.

Vezenkov arrived in Sacramento in 2023 after establishing himself among Europe’s elite players. However, his role under Mike Brown proved limited during the 2023-24 season.

He appeared in 42 games, averaging 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds while playing just 12.2 minutes per contest.

Vezenkov believes neither side was able to make the situation work as well as expected.

“Sometimes I think it was not a fair chance from both sides,” he said. “But I don’t regret it all. It was a great experience.”

Rather than regretting his decision to test himself in the NBA, Vezenkov wishes he had made the move earlier. He believes attempting the transition at a younger age might have given him more time to adapt.

“Maybe I regret I didn’t do it earlier in my career at a younger age. But the experience I take with me forever,” he said. “I learned a lot. I improved my game. I improved my whole vision of the game.”

Vezenkov eventually returned to Olympiacos and once again established himself among Europe’s leading players.

Instead of viewing his Sacramento stint as a failure, he considers the difficult experience an important part of his development.

“Sometimes, even a bad experience helps.”