Nenad Krstić (, born July 25, 1983) is a Serbian basketball executive and former professional player.
Krstić represented and captained the Serbian national basketball team internationally. Standing at 2.12 m (7 ft 0 in), he played the center position. Krstić was an NBA All-Rookie Second Team member in 2005 and a two-time All-Euroleague First Team selection in 2012 and 2013.
Professional career
Partizan Belgrade
His first professional team was Partizan Belgrade where he spent four seasons, making his debut in 2000–01. In the 2003–04 season, his last with Partizan, he averaged 13.4 points per game in the Euroleague. With Partizan, he also won three YUBA League championships in a row, and one Serbian Cup championship in the 2001–02 season.
On June 26, 2002, he was drafted with the 24th overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets. However, he didn't join the Nets for two seasons, continuing to play with Partizan Belgrade.
New Jersey Nets
During the 2004–05 NBA season, Krstić logged an impressive rookie campaign for the New Jersey Nets, averaging 10.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.84 blocked shots per game. He was honored as part of the All-Rookie NBA second team.
In his debut in the playoffs against the Miami Heat, Krstić averaged 18.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game; an exceptional performance for a rookie in the playoffs. This followed a greater trend where Krstić had consistently improved at a great pace as his rookie season progressed. He has a wide skill set for a big man, including refined post moves and a fantastic shooting touch from eighteen feet.
Throughout the 2005–06 season, Krstić's play had continued to rapidly improve. Three quarters of the way through the season, he averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 rebounds, and had become an integral part of the Nets offense. In the first round of the 2006 NBA playoffs against Indiana he averaged 18 points per game along with 7.1 rebounds.
In 2006–07 despite the rough Nets start, Nenad Krstić was averaging career highs in points (16.6), rebounds (6.8), and assists (1.8) before falling to the ground after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee versus the L.A. Lakers at Continental Airlines Arena on December 22, 2006. His surgery was successful. Krstić was out for the rest of the 2006–07 NBA season, but returned ahead of schedule to start the 2007–08 NBA season.
His 2007–08 season was a disappointment, as his injury disrupted his play and confidence on the court and he was largely a liability. Krstić later stated in his blog that he felt he let the team down, and vowed to return to his old form at the start of the 08–09 season.
Triumph Lyubertsy
During the 2008 summer off-season, Krstić entered negotiations with the Russian Super League team Triumph Lyubertsy and eventually signed a 2-year contract (with the NBA an opt-out option) worth €6 million euros net income with them on July 29, 2008. He averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in seven games in the Russian Super League and 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in 6 games in the EuroChallenge.
Oklahoma City Thunder
On December 19, 2008, two NBA league sources told ESPN.com that the Oklahoma City Thunder had agreed in principle to sign Krstić to a three-year offer sheet. On December 22, Krstić officially signed the offer sheet. The New Jersey Nets had seven days to match the offer, or Krstić would be free to join the Thunder. The Nets declined to match, and the Thunder waived Steven Hill to make room for Krstić.
He played for the first time in a Thunder uniform on January 7, 2009, versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, scoring six points and blocking 2 shots in 16 minutes.
Boston Celtics
On February 24, 2011, Krstić was traded along with Jeff Green and a 2012 first-round pick to the Boston Celtics for Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson. In his first game as a Celtic, he recorded 9 points and 6 rebounds in a win against the Los Angeles Clippers on February 26.
Krstić's final NBA game was on May 11, 2011, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Miami Heat. Boston would lose that game 87 - 97 (thus losing the series to Miami 4 - 1) with Krstić recording 8 points, 2 rebounds and 2 blocks.