Nikola Ivanović (born February 19, 1994) is a Montenegrin professional basketball player for Germani Brescia of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). Standing at 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in), he plays at the point guard position.
Professional career
Early career
Ivanović started his career in local club KK Joker Podgorica. He then played for Mornar Bar during the 2010–11 season, averaging 10.1 points, 4.5 assists and 3.8 steals per game. While in Mornar he also averaged 11.3 points, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game during 2010–11 BIBL season.[1]
Budućnost Podgorica
In 2011, Ivanović transferred to the biggest Montenegrin basketball club, Budućnost Podgorica, signing his first professional contract in February 2012, after he turned 18.[2] In his first season with the team, he averaged 6.9 points, 1.4 assists and 1 steal per game in 16.2 minutes per game played in the 2011–12 ABA League season.
During the 2013–14 season, Ivanović was handed a chance with being the first point guard option for Budućnost due to the injury of the starting point guard, Aleksandar Ćapin. Ivanović took up the opportunity in the late half of the season and had his best showings against Union Olimpija when he scored 28 points, making 8 out of his 11 shots for two points and also adding one three-pointer. In the same game he also had 3 assists and 2 steals with an index rating of 31.[3]
In the next game against Szolnoki Olaj he again showed great performance by scoring 27 points, making 4 assists and taking 2 steals. He shot 4 from 7 for two points and made 5 out of 7 three-pointers. He had a final index rating of 36.[4]
On July 15, 2015, he parted ways with Budućnost.[5]
Mega Leks
On July 31, 2015, Ivanović moved to Serbia and signed with Mega Leks.[6] In Adriatic League he averaged 30.2 minutes with 13.4 points, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals. He won the Serbian Cup with Mega Leks against rivals Partizan. In the finals he scored 24 points, five assists and he was the MVP of the competition.[7]
After going through many youth national teams of Montenegro, Ivanović became standard member of the senior Montenegrin national team.
On 18 August 2012, Ivanović scored an amazing three-pointer buzzer beater from a half court in a match against Serbia.[13][14]