PROFESSIONAL CAREER

Goga Bitadze was selected by the Pacers With the 18th Pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

BEFORE NBA

Competing against professional competition since he was 16 years old, Bitadze has played in leagues in Georgia, Serbia and Montenegro during his international career. 2015-16: In his first year of professional basketball, he played 13 games with Vita Tbilisi (Georgia) and Leks (Serbia). He averaged 4.8 points and 3.2 rebounds over 14.2 minutes per game. 2016-17: Competed with Smederevo and Leks on the junior levels in Serbia, and averaged 12.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game over 27 total appearances. 2017-18: Played 39 games for Bemax in Serbia and averaged 13.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks over 24.0 minutes per game. Bitadze shot 54.3 percent from the field, averaged 11.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while competing with the Georgian National Team during the World Cup qualifying rounds. 2018-19: Bitadze split the season between Buducnost (Montenegro) and Bemax (Serbia) while averaging 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.8 blocks per game over 51 total appearances between the two teams. He shot 57.1 percent from the field and improved his 3-point percentage to 40.0 percent during the year. He earned the Euroleague Rising Star Award for the 2018-19 season, a prestigious award previously awarded to NBA players such as Luka Doncic, Alex Abrines, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nikola Mirotic, Ricky Rubio, Rudy Fernandez, Andrea Bargnani and Danilo Gallinari. Bitadze averaged 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game for Buducnost on his way to being named the 2018-19 Adriatic League MVP and Best Young Player.