Nikola Peković facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nikola Peković
Peković with the Timberwolves in 2011
President of the Basketball Federation of Montenegro
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 April 2021
Preceded by	Veselin Barović
President of KK Partizan
In office 8 September 2015 – 14 June 2017
Preceded by	Predrag Danilović
Succeeded by	Ostoja Mijailović
Personal details
Born	(1986-01-03) 3 January 1986 (age 39) Bijelo Polje, SR Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia
Nikola Peković Personal information Listed height 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) Listed weight 307 lb (139 kg) Career information NBA Draft 2008 / Round: 2 / Pick: 31st overall Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves Pro career 2003–2017 Career history 2003–2005 Atlas 2004–2005 →Avala Ada 2005–2008 Partizan 2008–2010 Panathinaikos 2010–2017 Minnesota Timberwolves 2011 Partizan Career highlights and awards EuroLeague champion (2009) All-EuroLeague First Team (2009) All-EuroLeague Second Team (2008) 2× Greek League champion (2009, 2010) All-Greek League First Team (2009) All-Greek League Second Team (2010) All-Greek League Defensive Team (2010) Greek Cup winner (2009) 2× ABA League champion (2007, 2008) ABA League Final Four MVP (2008) 2× Serbian League champion (2007, 2008) YUBA League champion (2006) Serbian Cup winner (2008) Medals Men's basketball Representing  Serbia and Montenegro U20 European Championship Gold 2006 Turkey Under-20 Team Bronze 2005 Russia Under-20 Team

Nikola Peković (born 3 January 1986) is a Montenegrin basketball executive and former professional player. He is currently the president of the Basketball Federation of Montenegro. Peković started his playing career in Europe. Later, he played for seven years with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing at 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m), he played as a center. He was chosen for the All-EuroLeague Team twice. He also played for the senior Montenegrin national basketball team.

Nikola Peković's Basketball Journey

Starting Out in Basketball

Nikola Peković started playing basketball at age 15 in Podgorica. In 2003, he moved to Belgrade, Serbia. There, he signed his first professional contract with the Atlas team.

Playing for Partizan (2005–2008)

After two years with Atlas, Peković joined Partizan in July 2005. With Partizan, he won three straight Serbian League titles. He also won two Adriatic League titles and the Radivoj Korać Cup. In 2008, Peković was named the MVP of the Adriatic League Final Four. That same year, he was selected for the All-EuroLeague Second Team. This was because he helped Partizan reach the quarterfinals of the competition.

Time with Panathinaikos (2008–2010)

In the summer of 2008, Peković joined the Greek champions Panathinaikos. He signed a three-year contract. He averaged 13.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. This helped Panathinaikos win the 2008–09 EuroLeague title. Peković became known as one of Europe's best centers. He was voted to the All-EuroLeague First Team. With Panathinaikos, he also won two Greek League titles and the 2009 Greek Cup.

NBA Career with Minnesota Timberwolves (2010–2017)

Peković guarded by Anthony Davis in 2014

Peković was chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves as the 31st pick in the 2008 NBA draft. Many experts thought he would be picked much earlier. However, his contract in Europe meant he was selected later. Players picked in the second round of the NBA draft can sometimes get better contracts. This allowed the Timberwolves to pay him more than players picked later in the first round.

Rookie Season (2010–2011)

On June 30, 2010, Peković signed a three-year contract with the Timberwolves. As an NBA rookie in the 2010–11 season, he averaged 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

On August 16, 2011, Peković signed a contract to play for his old team, Partizan. This was during the 2011 NBA lockout. In 7 Euroleague games with Partizan, he averaged 15.4 points and 4.6 rebounds. When the NBA lockout ended in December 2011, he returned to the United States.

Becoming a Key Player (2011–2014)

The 2011–12 NBA season started on December 25, 2011. Peković became the starting center for the Timberwolves. He finished the season averaging 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He placed third in the voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award.

During the 2012–13 NBA season, Peković became a solid starting center. He played alongside team superstar Kevin Love. The Timberwolves won more than 30 games that season for the first time since Kevin Garnett left. Peković averaged 16.3 points and a career-high 8.8 rebounds per game.

On August 14, 2013, Peković signed a new five-year contract with the Timberwolves. On January 27, 2014, he hurt his ankle. This injury affected him for the rest of the season. He played only 10 more games that year. The 2013–14 season was even better for the Timberwolves, as they won 40 games. Peković averaged a career-high 17.5 points and 8.7 rebounds in 54 games.

In August 2014, the Timberwolves traded Kevin Love. They received Andrew Wiggins, starting a new era for the team.

Dealing with Injuries (2014–2017)

During the 2014–15 season, Peković played only 31 games. This was due to a right ankle injury. He averaged 12.5 points per game. On April 8, 2015, Peković had surgery on his right Achilles tendon. This was to help with the pain in his foot. Without Love and with Peković often injured, the Timberwolves had their worst record. They won only 16 games and lost 66. The Timberwolves then won the NBA draft lottery and picked Karl-Anthony Towns. This added more young talent like Wiggins and Zach LaVine.

Peković continued to have problems with his ankles and Achilles. He returned to play for the Timberwolves on January 6, 2016. This was his first game since March 11, 2015. He scored 12 points in 16 minutes off the bench. That season, he played in only 12 games. He averaged career lows of 4.5 points and 1.8 rebounds.

On September 25, 2016, Peković was ruled out for the entire 2016–17 season. This was due to ongoing right ankle pain. It seemed unlikely he would play for the Timberwolves again. On June 20, 2017, the Timberwolves released Peković from his contract.

National Team Career

Playing for Serbia and Montenegro Juniors

Peković with Montenegro in 2010

Peković played for the youth national teams of Serbia and Montenegro. He won a bronze medal at the 2005 European Under-20 Championship in Russia. He also won a gold medal at the 2006 tournament in Turkey.

Playing for Montenegro's Senior Team

Peković represented the senior Montenegrin national team at the EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania. In 5 games, he averaged 13.0 points and 6.4 rebounds. Montenegro was eliminated after the first round of the tournament.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular Season

EuroLeague

Executive Career in Basketball

Leading KK Partizan

In September 2015, Peković became the new president of KK Partizan. This happened after Sasha Danilović resigned. Soon after taking the role, he hired Petar Božić as the club's new head coach.

On June 14, 2017, he stepped down from this position.

Montenegrin Basketball Federation (KSCG)

In January 2020, Peković became a team manager for the Montenegro national basketball team. On April 26, 2020, he was named the president of the Basketball Federation of Montenegro. Before this, Peković met with Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazović. They discussed the future of basketball in Montenegro.

In June 2022, Zlatibor added Peković to their managing board.

Personal Life

Peković is an ethnic Serb and a Serbian Orthodox Christian. He spends his time off in Serbia, especially in Zlatibor and Belgrade. He has several Serb-themed tattoos, including symbols of the Battle of Kosovo and the Serbian cross.

On October 10, 2020, Peković was hospitalized after getting coronavirus.

See also

• List of European basketball players in the United States
• List of Montenegrin NBA players
• List of Serbian NBA players