Goga Bitadze facts for kids
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Bitadze with the Indiana Pacers in 2022
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| No. 35 – Orlando Magic | |
|---|---|
| Center | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 20 July 1999 Sagarejo, Georgia |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 2019 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18th overall |
| Selected by the Indiana Pacers | |
| Pro career | 2015–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2015–2016 | VITA Tbilisi |
| 2016–2019 | Mega |
| 2016–2017 | →Smederevo |
| 2018–2019 | →Budućnost |
| 2019–2023 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2019–2021 | →Fort Wayne Mad Ants |
| 2023–present | Orlando Magic |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Goga Bitadze (Georgian: გოგა ბითაძე; born on July 20, 1999) is a professional basketball player from Georgia. He plays as a center for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Goga is 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 250 pounds.
He was chosen by the Indiana Pacers as the 18th pick in the 2019 NBA draft. Before joining the NBA, Goga played for teams in Georgia, Serbia, and Montenegro. He was recognized as a rising star in European basketball. Goga also plays for the Georgian national team.
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Goga's Early Life and Basketball Start
Goga Bitadze was born in Sagarejo, a town in eastern Georgia. His dad was also a basketball player, but an injury ended his career early. Even though Goga didn't watch much basketball as a kid, he started playing at age six. He felt he was "active and tall," which made him a good fit for the sport.
As he got more into basketball, Goga looked up to Georgian players like Zaza Pachulia and Tornike Shengelia. He also admired NBA legends Pau Gasol and Shaquille O'Neal. In 2013, Goga scored 17 points to help his school team, Hyundai, win the national under-14 championship. He also played in Georgia's under-16 league for three years. In his last under-16 season, he was amazing, averaging 23.1 points, 16.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.8 blocks per game. Goga trained with the junior teams of the Georgian club VITA Tbilisi.
Goga's Professional Basketball Journey
Starting with VITA Tbilisi (2015–2016)
In the 2015–16 season, Goga Bitadze began his professional career with VITA Tbilisi. He was only 16 years old, making him the youngest player ever in the VTB United League. He played in six games, averaging 2.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in about 13 minutes per game.
Playing for Mega Basket (2015–2019)
Junior Success and Loan to Smederevo (2015–2017)
In December 2015, Goga joined Mega Basket in Serbia. He was excited because Mega was known for helping players reach the NBA, like Nikola Jokić. Moving away from his family was tough at first, but Goga knew he had to "sacrifice to achieve something big."
In December 2015, Goga helped Mega's junior team win a big tournament, the Torneo Città di Roma. This allowed them to play in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT). The next season, 2016–17, Goga was loaned to another Serbian team, Smederevo 1953. He played 19 games there, averaging 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. He also continued to shine with Mega's junior team in the 2016–17 ANGT. He led the tournament in rebounds and blocks, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Becoming a Star (2017–2018)
Goga returned to Mega for the 2017–18 season and played mostly with the main team. He averaged 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in the ABA League. In January 2018, he helped Mega's junior team win the Junior ABA League championship. Goga was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his great performance. He even thought about joining the NBA draft in 2018 but decided to wait.
To start the 2018–19 season, Goga continued to play for Mega. He had some amazing games, including one where he scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. He was named the ABA League's monthly MVP in October 2018. In 11 games for Mega, he averaged 20.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks.
Loan to Budućnost (2018–2019)
In December 2018, Goga was loaned to Budućnost, a team in Montenegro that played in the top European league, the EuroLeague. This move was a bit hard at first, but his new teammates and coaches helped him adjust.
Goga quickly made an impact in the EuroLeague. In one game, he scored 17 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and blocked 4 shots. He averaged 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in 13 EuroLeague games. For his excellent play, he was named the EuroLeague Rising Star, which means he was the best player under 22 in the league. After Budućnost's EuroLeague season ended, Goga returned to Mega.
Joining the Indiana Pacers (2019–2023)
On April 20, 2019, Goga announced he would enter the 2019 NBA draft. Many people thought he would be picked early. During a media event before the draft, a photo of Goga being ignored by reporters (who were surrounding future top pick Zion Williamson) went viral. Some NBA players, like Dwyane Wade, told Goga to use that moment as motivation.
The Indiana Pacers drafted Goga as the 18th overall pick. He officially signed with the Pacers in July 2019. Goga made his NBA debut on October 28, 2019, scoring two points and getting one rebound. He played for the Pacers for three and a half seasons before being waived in February 2023.
Playing for the Orlando Magic (2023–Present)
Soon after leaving the Pacers, Goga Bitadze signed with the Orlando Magic on February 13, 2023. He re-signed with the Magic in July 2024, continuing his NBA career with the team.
Playing for His Country: The National Team
Junior National Team
Goga proudly represented Georgia in international competitions for younger players.
- In 2015, he played for the Georgian under-17 team at the FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. He averaged 14.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game.
- In 2016, he played for the under-18 team at the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He averaged 11.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks per game.
- In 2017, he played for the under-20 team at the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, averaging 10.9 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Senior National Team
Goga was first chosen for the Georgian senior national team for EuroBasket 2017. However, an injury kept him from playing. Even so, he said he "learned a lot" by watching his experienced teammates. Goga made his official debut for the senior national team in November 2017 during the qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
See also
In Spanish: Goga Bitadze para niños
- List of foreign basketball players in Serbia
- List of NBA drafted players from Serbia
