Mario Nakić

Nakić was born in Belgrade, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia to a Croatian father and a Serbian mother.{{cite web |title=RAKOČEVIĆ ZA "NOVOSTI": Želimo da Mario igra za Srbiju |url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/sport.295.html:796176-RAKOCEVIC-ZA-NOVOSTI-Zelimo-da-Mario-igra-za-Srbiju |website=novosti.rs |accessdate=23 May 2019}} His father is Ivo Nakić, a former Croatian professional basketball player.{{cite web|title=Sin Iva Nakića debitovao za seniore Reala|url=http://rs.n1info.com/a390934/Sport-Klub/Kosarka/Sin-Iva-Nakica-debitovao-za-seniore-Reala.html|website=rs.n1info.com|accessdate=26 May 2018|language=sr}} His mother is Zorica Desnica. Nakić's older half-brother is Filip Živojinović, a son of Serbian former tennis player Slobodan Živojinović.{{cite web |title=STEFANA I VIKTORA SVI ZNAJU, ALI TREĆEG BRATA FILIPA ŽIVOJINOVIĆA NE: Pogledajte fotografije Maria Nakića! |url=https://expresstabloid.ba/izdvojeno/88695/stefana-viktora-svi-znaju-ali-treceg-brata-filipa-zivojinovica-ne-pogledajte-fotografije-maria-nakica/ |website=expresstabloid.ba |date=20 May 2018 |accessdate=24 May 2019}}

He started his basketball career with the youth team of Zemun where he played until 2014.{{cite web|title=SUPER SAM SE SNAŠAO U MADRIDU|url=https://www.sportinfo.rs/2016/03/10/super-sam-se-snasao-u-madridu/|website=sportinfo.rs|accessdate=26 May 2018|language=sr}} In the 2014–15 season, Nakić played with the youth selection of Serbian powerhouse Partizan. He moved to the Real Madrid's youth team one year later, for the 2015–16 season. He was selected to the all-tournament team for the 2017–18 season of the Next Generation Tournament. Nakić was a member of the Real Madrid U18 team that won the Next Generation Tournament in the 2018–19 season. He was named the MVP and selected to the all-tournament team after helping defeat Mega Bemax Belgrade in the final. He set championship game records with 33 points and a performance index rating of 41.{{cite web |title=MVP Nakic of Real Madrid headlines All-Tournament Team |url=https://www.adidasngt.com/u18/news/latest/i/9occvq9c8tn4qe63/mvp-nakic-of-real-madrid-headlines-all-tournament-team |website=adidasngt.com |accessdate=23 May 2019}}{{cite web |title=U18 MEGA BEMAX BELGRADE 76 -- U18 REAL MADRID 95 |url=https://www.adidasngt.com/u18/game-center/games/showgame?gamecode=13&seasoncode=JTF418 |website=adidasngt.com |accessdate=23 May 2019}}

On 24 May 2018 Nakić made a debut with Real Madrid in the Liga ACB (the top-tier Spanish League). He scored two points in a Real Madrid's 2017–18 season loss from Herbalife Gran Canaria.{{cite web|title=HERBALIFE GRAN CANARIA - REAL MADRID 88-78|url=http://www.acb.com/fichas/LACB62302.php|website=acb.com|accessdate=26 May 2018|language=sr}}

Following the 2020–21 season Nakić declared himself for the 2021 NBA draft. On 19 July 2021 he withdrawn his name from consideration for the 2021 NBA draft.{{cite web |title=NBA announces 51 early entry candidates withdraw from 2021 Draft |url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-announces-51-early-entry-candidates-withdraw-from-2021-draft |website=nba.com |access-date=21 July 2021}}

On 3 August 2021 he signed with MoraBanc Andorra of the Liga ACB.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bca.ad/el-futur-es-diu-nakic/|title=El futur es diu Nakic|last=|first=|date=August 3, 2021|website=bca.ad|publisher=|language=es|access-date=September 8, 2021}} Previously declared, Nakić subsequently withdrawn his name from consideration for the 2022 NBA draft.{{cite web |title=24 early-entry candidates withdraw from NBA Draft 2022 |url=https://www.nba.com/news/24-early-entry-candidates-withdraw-from-nba-draft-2022 |website=nba.com |access-date=23 June 2022}} In 27 ACB League games with Andorra, Nakić averaged 4.1 points and 2 rebounds per game. He also appeared in 18 EuroCup games, averaging 5.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game with Andorra.

On 16 August 2022, Nakić signed a 3-year contract with Igokea of the ABA League.{{cite web |title=Mario Nakić is the new Igokea m:tel reinforcement |url=https://www.aba-liga.com/news/47231/mario-nakic-is-the-new-igokea-m-tel-reinforcement/ |website=aba-liga.com |access-date=16 August 2022}}{{cite web |title=ABA liga jača za nekada veliku nadu Real Madrida |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2022&mm=08&dd=16&nav_id=2198338 |website=b92.net |access-date=16 August 2022}} On October 27, 2022, suffered a season-ending injury against Czech team Nymburk.{{cite news |title=Veliki hendikep za Igokeu: Marija Nakića zbog povrede čeka višemesečna pauza |url=https://www.mozzartsport.com/kosarka/vesti/veliki-hendikep-za-igokeu-marija-nakica-zbog-povrede-ceka-visemesecna-pauza/434514 |access-date=6 May 2025 |work=w.mozzartsport.com |date=27 October 2022 |language=Serbian}} In his debut season with Igokea, Nakić appeared in only three ABA League games (before injury), averaging 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

In 2023–24 season, Nakić returned to the court and appeared in 27 ABA League games with Igokea, averaging 8.3 points on 45.1% shooting from the field, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

On 20 August 2024, Nakić signed with Partizan Mozzart Bet of the ABA League, Basketball League of Serbia (KLS) and the EuroLeague.{{cite web|title=Crno-bela simfonija: Nova energija i duh tradicije Partizana na ulasku u sezonu 2024-25|url=https://partizan.basketball/vesti/aktuelno/3738|website=Partizan.basketball|date=20 August 2024|access-date=20 August 2024|language=Serbian}}{{cite web|first=Igor|last=Petrinovic|title=Partizan brings in former ANGT MVP Mario Nakic|url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kk-partizan-brings-former-angt-mvp-mario-nakic/|website=EuroLeagueBasketball.net|date=19 August 2024|access-date=19 August 2024}} By signing for Partizan Mario is following in the footsteps of his father Ivo Nakić who also played for the club under the leadership of Željko Obradović and won the 1988–89 FIBA Korać Cup and 1991–92 FIBA European League. In his debut season with Partizan, Nakić averaged 2.1 points and 1 rebound over 12 EuroLeague games. During the 2024–25 season, Partizan managed to lift the record eighth ABA League championship, and the Serbian League championship, the first one after 11 seasons.

Nakić was eligible to play for either Croatia or Serbia.{{cite web|title=SA KOLENA NA KOLENO Otac pokorio Evropu sa Partizanom, a sin debitovao u dresu novog prvaka Starog kontinenta|url=https://sport.blic.rs/kosarka/evropska-kosarka/sa-kolena-na-koleno-otac-pokorio-evropu-sa-partizanom-a-sin-debitovao-u-dresu-novog/ly9p5xd|website=sport.blic.rs|accessdate=26 May 2018|language=sr}} In May 2019, the Croatian national team head coach Veljko Mršić stated that Nakić has not decided anything yet, but he is closer to play for Serbia.{{cite web |title=Mladić koji je Real odveo na krov Europe bira između Hrvatske i Srbije |url=https://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/mladic-koji-je-real-odveo-na-krov-europe-bira-izmedju-hrvatske-i-srbije/2086953.aspx |website=index.hr |accessdate=23 May 2019|language=hr}} That was followed by confirmation of the Basketball Federation of Serbia Vice president Igor Rakočević.{{cite web |title="Mario je bliži tome da igra za Srbiju"; "Moramo da uradimo sve da izabere Hrvatsku" |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2019&mm=05&dd=22&nav_id=1545506 |website=b92.net |accessdate=24 May 2019|language=sr}} In the end, the Serbian head coach Aleksandar Đorđević confirmed that Nakić has not decided anything yet.{{cite web |title=Đorđević: Na pogrešan način se borimo za Nakića |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2019&mm=05&dd=25&nav_id=1546551 |website=b92.net |accessdate=25 May 2019}} In September 2022, Nakić stated that there is no decision yet which nation team he will represent.{{cite web |title=Nakić nije odlučio da li će igrati za Srbiju ili Hrvatsku |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2022&mm=09&dd=29&nav_id=2220523 |website=b92.net |access-date=30 September 2022}}

On February 21, 2025, he made his debut for the senior national team of Serbia in the away match of the qualification for Eurobasket 2025 against Finland.

• EB Next Generation Tournament MVP (2019)
• 2× All-EB Next Generation Tournament Team (2018, 2019)

{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align=left;"| 2019–20

| style="text-align-left;"| Real Madrid

| 3 || 1 || 4.0 || .750 || — || .000 || .7 || .0 || .3 || .0 || 2.0 || 1.3

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2024–25

| style="text-align:left;"| Partizan

| 12 || 3 || 8.7 || .455 || .250 || 1.000 || 1.0 || .2 || .2 || .1 || 2.1 || 2.0

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 15 || 4 || 7.6 || .633 || .250 || .500 || .9 || .2 || .3 || .1 || 2.1 || 1.0

{{s-end}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://www.aba-liga.com/player/4181/22/1/mario-nakic/ Mario Nakić] at aba-liga.com
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180701165046/http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=75C Mario Nakić] at acb.com
• [https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-nakic/007632/ Mario Nakić] at euroleaguebasketball.net
• [https://eurospects.com/?page_id=5228 Mario Nakić] at eurospects.com
• [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Mario-Nakic/Summary/108157 Mario Nakić] at realgm.com
• {{instagram|mario7nakic}}

{{KK Partizan current roster}}

{{Euroleague NGT MVP}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nakic, Mario}}

Category:2001 births

Category:Living people

Category:Basketball players from Belgrade

Category:BC Andorra players

Category:BC Oostende players

Category:Croatian expatriate basketball people in Spain

Category:Croatian men's basketball players

Category:Croatian people of Serbian descent

Category:Liga ACB players

Category:Real Madrid Baloncesto players

Category:KK Igokea players

Category:KK Partizan players

Category:Serbian expatriate basketball people in Andorra

Category:Serbian expatriate basketball people in Belgium

Category:Serbian expatriate basketball people in Spain

Category:Serbian men's basketball players

Category:Serbian people of Croatian descent

Category:Small forwards