Cedevita Olimpija signs professional contract with Mark Morano Mahmutovič
Cedevita Olimpija announced the signing of a professional contract with talented Mark Morano Mahmutovič until 2029. Mark, born in 2007, has proven himself in recent years as one of the most promising talents in Slovenian basketball, as evidenced by his performances in the club’s youth categories.
(Photo: Igokea m:tel/Marija Vuruna)
Mark Morano Mahmutovič began his basketball journey with Cedevita Olimpija in the youth categories, where he quickly drew attention with his outstanding performances. In 2022/23 season, he was a key member of the U16 team that won the national championship title, shining in the final tournament in Postojna with 37 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the championship game against ECE Triglav. The previous season, also in Postojna, he helped the U15 team secure the national title, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the final as the young Dragons defeated Slovan A. In the 2023/24 season, Mark was also one of the key players on the U18 team that won the national championship in Postojna, contributing 11 points and five rebounds in the final game against Slovan A.
His performances in the youth categories earned him the opportunity to prove himself in the senior team, where he has already debuted in the 2024/25 season's Spar Cup matches. At the same time, he is successfully playing this season for Cedevita Olimpija’s under-20 team and Cedevita Olimpija’s youth team, which competes in the 3rd SKL league. In the senior category, Morano Mahmutovič averages 19.3 points per game. In the Spar Cup, he scored six points in the semifinal match of the final tournament at Kodeljevo against ECE Triglav, while in the final against Krka, he finished with three points.
With his performances at this year’s Euroleague Next Generation Tournament in Munich, he was selected to the tournament’s All-Star Five, averaging 21.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He also gained international experience by playing in the U19 ABA League Championship. This season, at the tournament in Laktaši, he averaged 19.3 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game.
“I am very proud to have signed a professional contract with Cedevita Olimpija. This is a great honor and motivation for me to continue working hard and contributing to the club’s success. Thank you to all the coaches and teammates for their support on this journey,” said Mark Morano Mahmutovič upon signing his first professional contract with Cedevita Olimpija.
With the signing of Mark Morano Mahmutovič, Cedevita Olimpija continues its commitment to developing young players who represent the future of the club and Slovenian basketball.
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Cedevita Olimpija podpisala profesionalno pogodbo z Markom Moranom Mahmutovičem
Cedevita Olimpija je oznanila podpis profesionalne pogodbe z mladim in obetavnim igralcem Markom Moranom Mahmutovičem do leta 2029. Mark, rojen leta 2007, se je v zadnjih letih izkazal kot eden izmed najperspektivnejših talentov v slovenski košarki, kar potrjujejo njegove predstave v mlajših kategorijah kluba.
Mark Morano Mahmutovič je svojo košarkarsko pot v Cedeviti Olimpiji začel v ekipah mlajših starostnih kategorij, kjer je hitro opozoril nase z odličnimi igrami. V sezoni 2022/23 je bil ključni člen ekipe do 16 let, ki je osvojila naslov državnega prvaka, sam pa je na finalnem turnirju v Postojni na finalni tekmi proti ECE Triglavu blestel s 37 točkami in šestimi skoki in petimi asistencami, že sezono poprej pa je, prav tako v Postojni, z ekipo do 15. leta osvojil naslov državnega prvaka in v finalu dosegel 18 točk ob 10 zbranih skokih, mladi Zmaji pa so premagali Slovana A. Mark je bil v sezoni 2023/24 tudi eden od ključnih igralcev ekipe do 18. leta, ki je v Postojni osvojila naslov državnega prvaka, na finalni tekmi s Slovanom A pa je ob 11 točkah zbral pet skokov.
Njegove igre v ekipah mlajših starostnih kategorij so ga pripeljale do priložnosti, da se dokaže tudi v članski ekipi, kjer je že debitiral na tekmah Pokala Spar v sezoni 2024/25, obenem pa v tej sezoni uspešno nastopa tudi v ekipah Cedevite Olimpije do 20. leta in Cedevita Olimpija mladi, ki nastopa v 3. SKL. V članski kategoriji Morano Mahmutovič v povprečju dosega 19,3 točke na tekmo. V Pokalu Spar je na polfinalni tekmi finalnega turnirja na Kodeljevem z ECE Triglavom dosegel šest točk, na finalni tekmi s Krko pa se je ustavil pri treh točkah.
S svojimi nastopi na letošnjem evroligaškem turnirju za košarkarje do 18. leta v Münchnu je bil izbran tudi v najboljšo peterko turnirja, na katerem je v povprečju dosegal 21,0 točk in 5,8 skokov na tekmo. Izkušnje na mednarodnih ravni je pridobival tudi z nastopi v mladinski Ligi ABA za ekipe do 19. leta, v tej sezoni je na turnirju v Laktaših v povprečju dosegal 19,3 točke, 4,0 asistence in 3,0 skoke na tekmo.
“Zelo ponosen sem, da sem podpisal profesionalno pogodbo s Cedevito Olimpijo. To je zame velika čast in motivacija, da še naprej trdo delam ter prispevam k uspehom kluba. Hvala vsem trenerjem in soigralcem za podporo na tej poti,” je ob podpisu prve profesionalne pogodbe s Cedevito Olimpijo povedal Mark Morano Mahmutovič.
Cedevita Olimpija s podpisom pogodbe z Markom Moranom Mahmutovičem nadaljuje svojo zavezo razvoju mladih igralcev, ki predstavljajo prihodnost kluba in slovenske košarke.