Vezenkov was born in Nicosia to Bulgarian parents and was raised in Cyprus and Greece.[5][6] He holds triple citizenship for Bulgaria, Cyprus and Greece.[1]
Vezenkov, who was always considered to be one of the best youth players in Europe in his age group, began playing youth club basketball in Cyprus in 2005 with APOEL Nicosia's youth teams. In 2009, at the age of 14, he moved to Greece and began playing youth club basketball with Aris' youth teams, until 2011, when he joined Aris' senior men's club.[7] He trained for several years at Nick Galis Hall, located near the center of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Vezenkov began his pro career with the senior men's team of Aris, in the Greek League, in 2011, appearing in 10 games, with an average of 2.5 minutes on the floor.[10] In the 2012–13 season, he appeared in 21 games, averaging 3.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.[11] He was named the Greek League Best Young Player in 2013.[12]
In August 2013, he re-signed with Aris for 3 years.[9] In the next season, he established himself in the team, appeared in 26 games and averaged 11.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.9 steals per game.[13] He was named the Greek League Best Young Player again in 2014.[14] In the local derby against rivals PAOK, during the 2014–15 season, Vezenkov achieved Greek League career-highs in scoring and rebounding, with 29 points and 14 rebounds respectively.[15]
During 26 regular season games, Vezenkov led the league in total points scored, with 469, and was second in total rebounds grabbed, with 201.[16] In total, he played in 37 games during the 2014–15 Greek Basket League season, averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.[17] He was the league's official full-season leader in scoring and rebounding. He was also named the league's MVP, Most Improved Player, and Best Young Player that season.[18] Vezenkov had originally planned to enter the 2015 NBA draft, but later withdrew his name from it before the deadline that was set for international players in June.
Barcelona (2015–2018)
On 31 July 2015, Vezenkov signed a four-year deal (with the 4th year being optional) worth €2 million net income,[19] with the Spanish ACB League club FC Barcelona.[20] FC Barcelona also paid a €315,000 buyout fee to Vezenkov's former club, Aris.[21] Vezenkov's contract with FC Barcelona also included a buyout option for the NBA, set at the amount of €1 million.[22] The Spanish League club Valencia Basket, and the Greek League club Panathinaikos, were also interested in signing Vezenkov to a contract at the time.[21] Vezenkov would then put his name in the 2016 NBA draft, after his first season with Barcelona ended. However, he ultimately removed his name from the draft on the 13 June 2016, the deadline for international players.
On 10 July 2020, Vezenkov signed a two-year extension with the team.[26] He recorded his EuroLeague career-high on 18 March 2021, scoring 31 points in an 80–84 win at Alba Berlin.
In the 2021–22 season, Vezenkov established himself as a regular starter at Olympiacos. On 20 February 2022, he recorded 18 points and 13 rebounds in the Greek Cup Final against arch-rivals Panathinaikos, helping the club win its first title after 6 years. He was also named EuroLeague February MVP, playing an important role in Olympiacos finishing second in the Euroleague Regular Season with a 19–9 record, the club's best ever finish. On 27 April 2022, he scored 17 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the 83–87 road win, in Game 3 of the playoff series against Monaco, helping his team regain homecourt advantage and eventually qualify for the EuroLeague Final Four, for the first time since 2017. He finished the EuroLeague season averaging 13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and a Performance Index Rating of 17.8. His performance earned him a spot in the All-EuroLeague First Team. On 17 June 2022, in Game 3 of the Greek League Finals against Panathinaikos, he recorded 25 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, with Olympiacos completing the domestic Double, having swept their rivals.
In the 2022–23 EuroLeague season, Vezenkov was chosen as the EuroLeague MVP[28] and won the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy,[29] which made him only the second player to win both accolades in the same season, after Nando de Colo in 2016. In 40 EuroLeague games, he averaged 17.6 points (66% from the field, 38% from beyond the arc, 88% from the free throw line), 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, with a 21.5 PIR (Performance Index Rating), playing around 29 minutes per contest.
On 18 July 2023, Vezenkov signed a three-year, $20 million deal with the Kings.[33] He played one season with the Kings, averaging 12 minutes per game and 5.4 points per game.
While living in Cyprus as a youth, Vezenkov attended Greek schools. He is fluent in both Greek and Bulgarian.[5]
Vezenkov officially received Greek citizenship on 30 December 2015,[6] under the official name of Alexander "Alex" Vezenkof (Greek: Αλεξάντερ "Αλέξ" Βεζένκοφ),[57] with his common Greek name being Sasha Vezenkof (Greek: Σάσα Βεζένκοφ). Before acquiring Greek citizenship, Vezenkov had gone on record to say that he felt like a member of Greek society, since he was born and raised in Greek communities in both Cyprus and Greece.[58] He is in a relationship with Greek waterpolo player Nikoleta Eleftheriadou.
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