Nem Mitrovic Announces Retirement

St. Catharines, ON – Niagara River Lions guard Nemanja (Nem) Mitrovic has decided to retire from basketball he announced yesterday via his personal Instagram account.

“After 7 years pro, I’ve decided to retire and step away from the game. It’s been 20 years since I first started playing and letting go is difficult. This game has given me so much, taught me countless lessons, and helped shape the man I am today.”

Born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mitrovic grew up in a basketball family, watching his father play professionally in Europe for 18 years.

He attended Northern Secondary School in Toronto where he averaged 21 points per game and won the three-point shootout at the Canada All-Star Game in 2007.

He went on to play college ball at the University of Portland for four years where in his junior year he averaged 13.5 points, 3.3 rebounds while shooting 46% behind the three-point line.

Following his collegiate career, basketball took Mitrovic around the world, playing in Greece, Italy, France, Spain and Mexico before deciding to come home and play in Canada in front of his family and friends in the inaugural season of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

Mitrovic’s size (6’6”), shot preparation and footwork allowed him to be a deadeye shooter, never shooting under 35% from behind the arc in any of his years playing professionally.

Mitrovic was drafted during the CEBL’s Inaugural Draft in March 2019 and went on to start in all 21 games of the season, averaging 11.8 points and 39.6% in three-point percentage per game.

Through his career, Mitrovic also spent time with the Canadian and Bosnian national team.

Mitrovic was one of seven River Lions players to sign an Option Letter in September which declared mutual intent to return to the club for the 2020 season. With Mitrovic’s announcement this week, the River Lions will miss his presence both on and off the court, but look forward to following him on his next chapter.