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Andrej Stojakovic’s decision is painfully clear for NBA executives

Illinois basketball is waiting on the decision of Andrej Stojakovic, and while a decision is being made, NBA executives put in their two cents.
ByRees Woodcock|
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Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Bennett Stirtz (14) controls the ball against Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Bennett Stirtz (14) controls the ball against Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Time is ticking away, and the Illinois basketball team is still waiting on an answer from Andrej Stojakovic.

In April, I didn’t think this was going to be a thing. The Illini got the answer we wanted from Stojakovic, and he was coming back to Champaign for one more go at a national championship. He then declared for the NBA Draft after announcing he was returning.

Again, I thought the NBA Draft process would be quick. Stojakovic isn’t a good shooter, and he proved that in the NBA Draft Combine. Yet, here we are on May 23, just days before the May 27 deadline, waiting for Stojakovic to decide on whether or not he is staying in the NBA Draft.

In a recent small poll done by Jeff Goodman of the Field of 68, he got the opinion of 10 NBA executives on what the decision should be for Stojakovic.

All 10 said come back to college.

There wasn’t one NBA executive out of the poll who thought the NBA was a good idea. They all believe he should come back for his final season and then test the NBA waters again in 2027.

I think this is painfully obvious to everyone right now. Stojakovic just doesn’t have the shooting for the next level. He only hit 24.4% of his three-pointers last season, and he was consistently in the bottom half or at the bottom of the shooting drills in the NBA Draft Combine.

Stojakovic can mask the shooting struggles if he had elite defense. That isn’t the case either, though.

Toward the end of the 2025-26 campaign, Stojakovic started to play a better brand of defense, but it is not anywhere near what it needs to be to guard NBA players. Again, another year at Illinois would help with both shooting and defense.

It sounds like I am bashing Andrej Stojakovic, but at the end of the day, he is a good college player

I know that I am pointing out all of the negatives on why Stojakovic shouldn’t go to the NBA, but that doesn’t mean he is a bad player.

There is a massive gulf between a college and NBA player in nearly every facet of the game. The only thing right now that I think is NBA caliber for Stojakovic is his driving ability. He can get to the rim well, and that can work in the NBA.

When you take everything that Stojakovic brings to the table right now with no improvements, he is a good college player. In college, you can mask bad three-point shooting with the ability to get to the rim, speed, and physicality. That isn’t the case in the NBA. NBA players will expose you.

So, fans think Stojakovic should come back for his final season. NBA executives are now speaking out with the same sentiment. This isn’t about wanting more talent on the Illinois roster. It is about wanting Stojakovic to make the right decision and not get lost in the G-League waters.

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