Filip Petrušev

Filip Petrušev
Born	(2000-04-15) April 15, 2000 Belgrade, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia
Occupation	Professional basketball player
Years active	2014–present
Known for	Playing for Dubai Basketball, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Philadelphia 76ers

Filip Petrušev (, born April 15, 2000) is a Serbian professional basketball athlete currently playing for Dubai Basketball in both the ABA League and EuroLeague. He previously competed at the collegiate level with the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Early career

Petrušev’s birthplace is Belgrade, located in Serbia, FR Yugoslavia.

Youth basketball in Serbia

His early basketball development took place within the youth programs of Serbian clubs Crvena zvezda and Partizan.

Saski Baskonia youth system

At age fourteen, standing taller than two meters, Petrušev joined the youth academy of Spanish club Saski Baskonia (Laboral Kutxa) based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, in 2014. He resided in a club-arranged house alongside other international young players, attending school during mornings and dedicating afternoons to basketball training. His progression featured daily personalized drills focusing on footwork and mastering the hook shot under the guidance of coach .

During summer 2015, coach Vladimir Đokić selected him to represent Serbia’s under-16 national team at the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship.

By 2016, at sixteen years old, Petrušev parted ways with Saski Baskonia after the club proposed turning professional, which entailed discontinuing formal education and accepting assignments to lower-tier Spanish teams. His family opted for him to maintain his academic pursuits alongside his athletic career. Reflecting on his experience in Spain, he described it as "effectively becoming a semi-professional at fourteen," which fostered "substantial personal development."

U.S. high schools

Following his inclusion in the Serbia under-16 squad for the 2016 U16 European Championship, where he played alongside prospects such as Alen Smailagić, Dalibor Ilić, and Marko Pecarski, sixteen-year-old Petrušev transitioned to playing high school basketball in the United States at Avon Old Farms, an all-boys boarding institution located in Avon, Connecticut. Arriving with a foot injury sustained during the European Championship, he missed a significant portion of the season and initially struggled with Avon’s fast-paced, run-and-gun style and lack of structure. Nevertheless, once active on the court, he adapted to the quicker tempo and athletic emphasis, valuing opportunities to shoot from beyond the arc and handle the ball—skills that were less prioritized during his time with Baskonia and Serbia’s under-16 team.

In July 2017, ahead of his senior year, Petrušev transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, a renowned preparatory school recognized for producing NBA-caliber talent.

In August 2017, he participated in the Basketball Without Borders Europe Camp held in Netanya, Israel. Competing alongside top-ranked recruits including number one prospect RJ Barrett, Petrušev gained confidence from head coach Kevin Boyle who viewed him as a contemporary big man—either power forward or center—with a capacity for three-point shooting and versatility as an inside-outside player. At that stage considered undersized physically, he committed to a conditioning program aimed at increasing muscle mass. Additionally, he took part in the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp conducted in El Segundo, California in February 2018.

U.S. college recruiting

Petrušev was widely regarded as a four-star recruit by leading scouting organizations. He initially pledged to the University of Hartford on October 24, 2016, but later rescinded his commitment on July 26, 2017. Subsequently, on October 22, 2017, he committed to Gonzaga University and officially signed a letter of intent with the Bulldogs on November 8, 2017.

College career

During his freshman year, Petrušev posted averages of 6.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, earning a spot on the West Coast Conference (WCC) All-Freshman Team. He recorded a personal best of 25 points in a victory over Arkansas–Pine Bluff on November 9, 2019, followed by a performance with 24 points and nine rebounds against Eastern Washington on December 21. His strong play placed him on the midseason watchlist for the Wooden Award. In January 2020, Petrušev sustained an ankle injury during a matchup with BYU.

By the conclusion of the season, he was honored as the WCC Player of the Year after averaging 17.5 points and eight rebounds per contest. Afterward, Petrušev declared for the 2020 NBA draft but eventually withdrew his candidacy.

Mega Basket (2020–2021)

Petrušev inked his first professional deal with Mega Soccerbet of the Basketball League of Serbia on July 20, 2020, aiming to enhance his draft prospects amid uncertainties surrounding the NCAA season. He earned the ABA League MVP for October and withdrew from the 2020 NBA draft on November 8. By season’s end, Petrušev secured several accolades including the ABA League MVP, ABA League Top Prospect, and ABA League Top Scorer honors for the 2020–21 campaign.

Anadolu Efes (2021–2022)

Following his selection in the NBA draft earlier that summer, Petrušev joined the Philadelphia 76ers roster for the 2021 NBA Summer League in August 2021. He made his debut on August 9, contributing five points, four rebounds, and three blocks in a victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

On August 17, 2021, Petrušev signed a one-year contract with reigning EuroLeague champions Anadolu Efes, competing in Turkey’s top-tier league. Joining a team led by guards Shane Larkin and fellow Serbian Vasilije Micić, he made an immediate impact by scoring 17 points in just 16 minutes during his EuroLeague debut against Real Madrid. Despite this promising start, Anadolu Efes experienced challenges early in the season and ended December with an even 9–9 record.

In the latter half of the season, Petrušev’s playing time diminished as seasoned centers Tibor Pleiß and Bryant Dunston returned to form and head coach Ergin Ataman favored veteran players. Consequently, he did not see action during the playoffs quarterfinals or at the 2022 EuroLeague Final Four, where Efes successfully defended their EuroLeague championship.

Crvena zvezda (2022–2023)

After appearing in two contests for the Serbian national team during the mid-2022 phase of the World Cup third qualification window, Petrušev took part in his second consecutive NBA Summer League with the Philadelphia 76ers in Las Vegas during summer 2022. He demonstrated eagerness to join Philadelphia immediately and participated in four Summer League games, averaging 5.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per outing. Nevertheless, he was not offered a contract as he was deemed not yet physically prepared for NBA competition.

On July 19, 2022, Petrušev returned to his hometown by signing with Crvena zvezda, rejoining the club where he developed through their youth ranks prior to 2014. Throughout the 2022–23 EuroLeague season, he featured in 34 games and averaged 10.7 points along with 5.2 rebounds while playing approximately 23 minutes per game.

Philadelphia 76ers (2023)

Petrušev entered the 2021 NBA draft on May 3, 2021, and was chosen as the 50th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. He opted to continue playing in Europe after being drafted. On July 17, 2023, Petrušev officially signed with the 76ers. He made his first NBA appearance on October 29, 2023, logging two minutes and 41 seconds on the court and recording one rebound during a 126–98 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Sacramento Kings (2023)

On November 1, 2023, Petrušev was obtained by the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a three-team trade involving James Harden and P.J. Tucker. Just two days later, the Clippers transferred him to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for the draft rights to Serbian player Luka Mitrović. The Kings released Petrušev on November 24, 2023.

Olympiacos (2023–2025)

On November 28, 2023, Petrušev committed to a three-year contract with Olympiacos, competing in both the Greek Basketball League and the EuroLeague.

Loan to Crvena zvezda (2024–2025)

Following the return of injured players Moustapha Fall and Nikola Milutinov to Olympiacos' lineup, Petrušev was loaned out to Crvena zvezda on October 23, 2024, for the remainder of that season.

Dubai Basketball (2025–present)

On July 25, 2025, Petrušev signed a three-year contract with Dubai Basketball, which competes in both the ABA League and the EuroLeague.

Youth

Petrušev represented Serbia at various youth levels, including participation with the U-16 squads at both the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship and the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. He earned gold medals with Serbia’s U-18 team at the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and again at the 2018 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, posting averages of 5.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in 2017, then significantly improving to 21.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in 2018. In the final of that tournament, he tallied 29 points along with eight rebounds and three assists, which secured him a place on the All-Tournament Team.

Advancing to senior youth competition, Petrušev competed for Serbia’s U-19 team at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, where he averaged impressive stats across seven games: 19.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and two blocks per contest.

Senior

Petrušev was selected for Serbia’s senior national team coached by Igor Kokoškov during the 2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Belgrade in mid-2021. The team fell short in the final against Italy, missing qualification for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Over four games in this tournament, he led Serbia with averages of 15.5 points, five rebounds, 0.8 assists, and one block per game.

He also represented Serbia at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, under head coach Svetislav Pešić, where Serbia secured a silver medal after a loss to Germany in the final match. Throughout six games in that event, Petrušev averaged 8.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest. Additionally, he contributed to Serbia’s bronze medal finish at the 2024 Summer Olympics, averaging 9.7 points and 4.5 rebounds over six games played.

NBA

|- | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| | style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia | 1 || 0 || 3.0 || || || || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento | 2 || 0 || 3.5 || .500 || || .500 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.5 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Total | 3 || 0 || 3.3 || .500 || || .500 || .3 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.0

EuroLeague

†	Indicates seasons in which Petrušev secured the EuroLeague title

|- | style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| 2021–22† | style="text-align:left;"| Anadolu Efes | 22 || 4 || 9.3 || .597 || .400 || .750 || 1.6 || .3 || .1 || .2 || 5.2 || 5.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 | style="text-align:left;"| Crvena zvezda | 34 || 11 || 22.6 || .542 || .351 || .695 || 5.2 || .7 || .5 || .7 || 10.7 || 12.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 | style="text-align:left;"| Olympiacos | 22 || 1 || 15.6 || .476 || .286 || .783 || 3.3 || .6 || .3 || .5 || 6.3 || 7.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2024–25 | style="text-align:left;"| Crvena zvezda | 28 || 12 || 21.4 || .566 || .283 || .671 || 4.9 || 1.7 || .8|| .6|| 14.1|| 15.3 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Overall | 110 || 28|| 17.5|| .542|| .313|| .709||4.0|| .9|| .4|| .5||9.5||11.0

Domestic leagues

Year	Team	League	GP	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2020–21	style="text-align:left;" |Template:Country data SerbiaTemplate:Namespace detect showall Mega	style="text-align:center;" |KLS	8	25.9	.483	.542	.617	6.9	1.5	.4	.7	15.7
2020–21	style="text-align:left;" |Template:Country data SerbiaTemplate:Namespace detect showall Mega	style="text-align:center;" |ABA	21	32.0	.579	.419	.739	7.6	1.6	.5	1.1	23.6
2021–22	style="text-align:left;" | Anadolu Efes	style="text-align:center;" |TBSL	13	22.7	.678	.167	.842	6.1	1.0	.2	1.2	15.1
2022–23	style="text-align:left;" |Template:Country data SerbiaTemplate:Namespace detect showall Crvena zvezda	style="text-align:center;" |KLS	2	16.5	.750	1.000	.500	3.0	2.0	.5	1.0	7.0
2022–23	style="text-align:left;" |Template:Country data SerbiaTemplate:Namespace detect showall Crvena zvezda	style="text-align:center;" |ABA	33	22.4	.597	.519	.725	4.8	1.6	.4	.7	11.4
2023–24	style="text-align:left;" | Stockton Kings	style="text-align:center;" |G League	1	9.0		—		—		—		1.0		1.0		—		1.0		0.0
2023–24	style="text-align:left;" | Olympiacos	style="text-align:center;" |HEBA A1		19		16.3		.611		.200		.707		3.7		1.5		.2		.3		7.8
2024–25		Template:Country data SerbiaTemplate:Namespace detect showall Crvena zvezda		KLS		2		27.5		.450		—		.667		6.0		1.5		2.0		.2		12.0

College

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19 | style="text-align:left;"| Gonzaga | 32 || 0 || 11.4 || .554 || .300 || .853 || 2.7 || .3 || .2 || .5 || 6.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 | style="text-align:left;"| Gonzaga | 33 || 33 || 25.9 || .562 || .182 || .655 || 7.9 || 1.5 || .6 || .8 || 17.5 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 65 || 33 || 18.8 || .560 || .268 || .703 || 5.4 || .9 || .4 || .6 || 12.0

During this period, Filip welcomed his daughter Stasia into the family. He proudly acknowledges his Macedonian heritage, tracing his roots to his grandfather Gute Petrušev, who relocated from Macedonia to Serbia and played a significant role as a mentor and supporter throughout Filip’s journey. Notably, the family name was originally Petruševski before being shortened to Petrušev following their move to Belgrade.

See also

• List of Serbian NBA players
• List of NBA drafted players from Serbia
• Philadelphia 76ers draft history

External links

• Gonzaga Bulldogs bio
• Filip Petrušev at aba-liga.com
• Filip Petrušev at euroleague.net