LAS VEGAS — Mario Hezonja wore his Knicks jersey in Croatia all the time after getting it at age 14. The 6-foot-8 forward heard from Knicks fans on social media once he started to turn around his 2017-18 season in late December.
And Hezonja knew he had an ally in former Magic executive Scott Perry, part of the Orlando braintrust that drafted him fifth overall in 2015, and now Knicks general manager.
Hezonja said he got offers from the Lakers, Trail Blazers and Thunder, but he couldn’t fathom turning down the Knicks on July 1 when free agency began, even if it was a one-year $6.