Nikola Pekovic
Encyclopedia
Nikola Peković is a Montenegrin
professional basketball
player. He is currently playing for the Serbian club Partizan Belgrade
. Peković is 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) tall and he plays the center
position.
. From there, he went to Belgrade
to play for KK Atlas in 2003, and he played for them until 2005, when he moved to KK Partizan
. With Partizan, he won three Serbian League championships (2006, 2007, 2008), two Adriatic League championships (2007, 2008), and the Serbian Cup
in 2008. He was named the MVP
of the Adriatic League Final Four in 2008.
In the summer of 2008, Peković joined the Greek League club Panathinaikos. He signed a 3 year contract worth €4.6 million euro
s net income
. He averaged 13 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, in just over 18 minutes per contest, helping Panathinaikos win the 2008–09 Euroleague title.
by the Minnesota Timberwolves
. Many draft experts considered him a top 10 pick, but due to his contract situation with his team in Europe he was selected much lower. He was considered a lock to be drafted with the first pick of the second round because players selected in the second round are not subject to the rookie scale contracts of the first round. This meant that the team that drafted him would be able to pay him more than those players selected later in the first round. Due to the amount of money Peković was making in Europe already, he likely would not have made the jump to the NBA for the amount of money that could be paid to a late first round player. It was reported on June 30, 2010, that Peković had agreed with the Wolves to a 3 year, $13 million gross income
deal.
in Serbia
until the 2011 NBA lockout
ends.
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11
| style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota
| 65 || 11 || 13.6 || .517 || .000 || .763 || 3.0 || .4 || .3 || .5 || 5.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 65 || 11 || 13.6 || .517 || .000 || .763 || 3.0 || .4 || .3 || .5 || 5.5
. At the 2006 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship held in İzmir
, he won the gold medal with his national team.
.
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He is currently playing for the Serbian club Partizan Belgrade
KK Partizan
Košarkaški klub Partizan is a Serbian professional basketball club. It is part of the multi-sports Belgrade-based club Partizan. The club competes in the Serbian League, Adriatic League and the Euroleague....
. Peković is 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) tall and he plays the center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
position.
Europe
Peković began playing basketball with KK Junior from PodgoricaPodgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
. From there, he went to Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
to play for KK Atlas in 2003, and he played for them until 2005, when he moved to KK Partizan
KK Partizan
Košarkaški klub Partizan is a Serbian professional basketball club. It is part of the multi-sports Belgrade-based club Partizan. The club competes in the Serbian League, Adriatic League and the Euroleague....
. With Partizan, he won three Serbian League championships (2006, 2007, 2008), two Adriatic League championships (2007, 2008), and the Serbian Cup
Kup Radivoja Koraća
Kup Radivoja Koraća is the national basketball cup of Serbia. It is run by the Basketball Federation of Serbia.-History:-External links:**...
in 2008. He was named the MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
of the Adriatic League Final Four in 2008.
In the summer of 2008, Peković joined the Greek League club Panathinaikos. He signed a 3 year contract worth €4.6 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s net income
Net income
Net income is the residual income of a firm after adding total revenue and gains and subtracting all expenses and losses for the reporting period. Net income can be distributed among holders of common stock as a dividend or held by the firm as an addition to retained earnings...
. He averaged 13 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, in just over 18 minutes per contest, helping Panathinaikos win the 2008–09 Euroleague title.
NBA
Peković was selected 31st overall in the 2008 NBA Draft2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
. Many draft experts considered him a top 10 pick, but due to his contract situation with his team in Europe he was selected much lower. He was considered a lock to be drafted with the first pick of the second round because players selected in the second round are not subject to the rookie scale contracts of the first round. This meant that the team that drafted him would be able to pay him more than those players selected later in the first round. Due to the amount of money Peković was making in Europe already, he likely would not have made the jump to the NBA for the amount of money that could be paid to a late first round player. It was reported on June 30, 2010, that Peković had agreed with the Wolves to a 3 year, $13 million gross income
Gross income
Gross income in United States tax law is receipts and gains from all sources less cost of goods sold. Gross income is the starting point for determining Federal and state income tax of individuals, corporations, estates and trusts, whether resident or nonresident."Except as otherwise provided" by...
deal.
Return to Europe
On August 16, 2011 he signed a contract to play for Partizan BelgradeKK Partizan
Košarkaški klub Partizan is a Serbian professional basketball club. It is part of the multi-sports Belgrade-based club Partizan. The club competes in the Serbian League, Adriatic League and the Euroleague....
in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
until the 2011 NBA lockout
2011 NBA lockout
The 2011 NBA lockout is the fourth lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association . The owners began the work stoppage at 12:01 am EDT on July 1, 2011. The main issues dividing the owners and the players are revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap...
ends.
Regular season
|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
| 65 || 11 || 13.6 || .517 || .000 || .763 || 3.0 || .4 || .3 || .5 || 5.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 65 || 11 || 13.6 || .517 || .000 || .763 || 3.0 || .4 || .3 || .5 || 5.5
Serbia and Montenegro national team
In 2005, while playing with the Under-21 Serbia and Montenegro national basketball team, he received the bronze medal in Russia at the FIBA Europe Under-20 ChampionshipFIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, previously known as European Championship for Men 'Under22 and Under, is a basketball competition inaugurated in 1992. Until 2004 it was held biannually, but from 2004 onwards it is held every year. The current champions are Spain.Since 2005, a second level...
. At the 2006 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship held in İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, he won the gold medal with his national team.
Montenegro national team
Peković is a member of the Montenegrin men's senior national teamMontenegro national basketball team
The Montenegrin national basketball team represents Montenegro in men's international basketball tournaments. It is organized by the Basketball Federation of Montenegro , which is the governing body of basketball in Montenegro...
.
Pro career
- Won 3 Serbian Championships: (2006, 2007, 2008)
- Won 2 Adriatic Championships: (2007, 2008)
- Won the Serbian CupKup Radivoja KoraćaKup Radivoja Koraća is the national basketball cup of Serbia. It is run by the Basketball Federation of Serbia.-History:-External links:**...
: (2008) - Adriatic League Final Four MVP: (2008)
- All-Euroleague Second Team: (2008)
- Won the Greek CupGreek basketball CupThe Greek Basketball Cup or Hellenic Basketball Cup is an annual pro basketball national cup competition. It is organized by the Hellenic Basketball Federation .-History and format:...
: (2009) - Won 2 Greek Championships: (2009, 2010)
- All-Euroleague First Team: (2009)
- Won the Euroleague Championship: (2009)
- Won the Triple Crown: (2009)
National team
- 2005 FIBA Europe Under-20 ChampionshipFIBA Europe Under-20 ChampionshipFIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, previously known as European Championship for Men 'Under22 and Under, is a basketball competition inaugurated in 1992. Until 2004 it was held biannually, but from 2004 onwards it is held every year. The current champions are Spain.Since 2005, a second level...
- Bronze Medal - 2006 FIBA Europe Under-20 ChampionshipFIBA Europe Under-20 ChampionshipFIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, previously known as European Championship for Men 'Under22 and Under, is a basketball competition inaugurated in 1992. Until 2004 it was held biannually, but from 2004 onwards it is held every year. The current champions are Spain.Since 2005, a second level...
- Gold Medal