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Meet Luka Mitrovic, 2015 NBA draft pick the Knicks got rights to in trade

Published 16 hours ago3 minute read

The Knicks got a surprising addition in a pick swap with the Clippers during the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft — the rights to a 32-year-old from Serbia.

Luka Mitrovic, who was originally drafted by the 76ers with the No. 60 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, was included in the trade between the Knicks and Clippers that saw New York move down to No. 51 and take Mohamed Diawara on Thursday night.

Since being drafted by Philadelphia a decade ago, Mitrovic has bounced around numerous professional teams in Europe, and was most recently a member of KK Crvena zvezda’s ABA League and EuroLeague teams for the 2024-25 season, where he played in 47 games.

Basketball player shooting a basket during a game.

Luka Mitrovic shoots during the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 34 match between Panathinaikos Athens and Crvena Zvezda MeridianBet Belgrade at OAKA on April 11, 2025 in Athens, Greece. Euroleague Basketball via Getty

Despite remaining in Europe since his draft selection, the rights to Mitrovic have been involved in two NBA trades, first being dealt to the Kings just weeks after being selected in a deal that sent Carl Landry, Jason Thompson and Nik Stauskas to the Sixers.

Mitrovic was then sent to the Clippers midway through the 2023-24 season in exchange for Filip Petrusev, a former teammate of his on Crvena zvezda.

The Serbian started his professional basketball career when he was just 17, signing a deal with Hemofarm in Serbia for the 2010-11 season.

Basketball player shooting a basket.

Luka Mitrovic in action during the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Play-in B match between FC Bayern Munich and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade at SAP Garden on April 15, 2025 in Munich, Germany. Euroleague Basketball via Getty

Mitrovic spent five seasons playing for Crvena zvezda from 2012-13 to 2016-17 before joining the team again for 2021-22.

It remains unclear if the Knicks will bring Mitrovic over to the United States, with the deal most likely being for salary cap purposes, as his contract does not go against the cap unless signed.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade basketball player making a heart shape with his hands.

Luka Mitrovic celebrates after winning the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 17 match between Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv at Belgrade Arena on Dec. 20, 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia. Euroleague Basketball via Getty

With the No. 51 pick of Thursday’s draft, the Knicks ultimately selected Diawara, a French forward.

Diawara, 20, last played for Cholet Basket in the LNB Pro A league in France, and averaged 5.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 27 games.

He also reportedly has a 7-foot-4 wingspan and a 9-foot-2 standing reach.

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