Adelaide 36ers captain DJ Vasiljevic on finding a home in SA - on and off the court
After a couple of years in SA, Adelaide 36ers captain Dejan Vasiljevic is finally feeling at home. He reveals how his family and partner have shaped him, and why the Sixers are set for success.
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Every time Dejan Vasiljevic hits the court, he remembers the first time he got a front-row show to his father’s exploits with a ball in hand.
His parents – Danijela and Todor – fled Serbia as the conflict intensified in 1996, leaving behind loved ones with suitcases in hand in search of a safer future to raise a family.
Sport had always been a major part of Vasiljevic’s life, with Todor playing semi-professional handball across Europe before DJ was born.
But it was on the streets of Melbourne, a far cry from his parents’ war-torn former home, that he watched his father return to the handball court through a chance reunion.
“Dad ran into his best mate that had also migrated out here out of nowhere, they would have never kept in contact, but handball brought them back together,” he says.
“They actually put a team together and next thing you know the Australian side wanted to play against them and they ended up getting thumped. A bunch of 40-year-olds were just running around beating them.”
Now sitting outside a Grange cafe, just a short walk from his seaside home, the 28-year-old fully appreciates how lucky he is to chase his own hoop dream.
Just two days earlier, DJ pulled on the green and gold for the Boomers – a privilege he’s earned through years of hard work and support.
If it weren’t for his parents’ sacrifices, he concedes, there is a chance he would have never picked up a basketball at all.
“I probably wouldn’t even be playing sport if they didn’t leave,” he says.
“If we’d stayed overseas, who knows, I might be working on the farm, it would be a comfortable life, but wouldn’t be what I am today.”
After fleeing Serbia and settling in Alberta, Canada, the Vasiljevics soon welcomed Dejan and then his sister Ivana – a fellow hooper who has now followed in DJ’s footsteps.
It was there where his father Todor – a professor in the food science sector – furthered his studies, balancing multiple jobs alongside his wife.
“Imagine packing up shop and then having two kids,” Vasiljevic says.
“My dad had two or three jobs at a time and my mum was working full-time, she picked up some night shifts as well just to try and get us by.”
The family moved to Australia when Dejan was six.
After trying his hand at tennis, soccer and cricket, it was a passion for being a part of a team that pulled Vasiljevic to basketball.
The talented junior quickly progressed through the Melbourne ranks, with his father moulding his game, inspired by late Croatian-born NBA star Drazen Petrovic.
But his journey wasn’t without its hiccups.
“When I was 13, I got cut from the under 16s second team for a local team in Melbourne,” Vasiljevic says.
“I started questioning myself, ‘Was basketball really for me?’
“One of the coaches pulled me aside and said he wanted to work with me to help me develop.
“We worked out three times a week on top of the team training, next thing you know I go into the first side and end up making a state squad.”
This dogged determination went into overdrive when DJ moved to Canberra to attend the Australian Institute of Sport – a tough but rewarding move for any 15-year-old.
It was here where his dream of playing professionally took shape, soon representing Australia in under-16, under-17 and under-19 national teams, playing against some of the world’s best – including current NBA star Jayson Tatum.
“To have my parents sit in the stands when I had the green and gold on the front, but also your last name on the back, they were really proud, Mum got a bit emotional,” he says.
Recruiters from American colleges quickly came knocking for DJ’s services.
University of Miami secured his signature and he spent four years growing as a basketballer and, more importantly, as a person.
After missing out at the NBA draft, the shooting guard moved back to Australia, winning back-to-back championships with the Sydney Kings.
He then bet on himself again in 2023, opting out of his NBL contract, signing a deal with the Washington Wizards in the US to chase his dream of playing in the NBA.
The gamble didn’t pay off, with the team waiving DJ before the pre-season began.
While heartbreaking at the time, the decision ultimately proved fruitful in the long run, with DJ getting picked up by the Adelaide 36ers.
It wasn’t long before he felt at home in SA, with junior teammate and longtime friend Isaac Humphries and NBL veteran Jason Cadee helping him acclimatise to life in SA.
It wasn’t just the players who welcomed him with open arms, but the entire organisation.
“Igor Cvjetkovic, who is now our assistant coach, was a volunteer my first year and I didn’t know that,” he says.
“He was in all the time, doing film for the coaches, but he had a second job as well.
“He was willing to sacrifice his other job to help me and the other players out, so I went to management and said you’ve got to keep this guy around. Adelaide just seemed different and I wanted to see if I could bring some success here and challenge myself.”
That bid to break their 23-year championship drought has been given a shot in the arm following the signing of five-time NBL MVP and three-time NBL champion Bryce Cotton.
Widely considered one of the greatest players to suit up in the NBL, the 32-year-old Cotton is almost the perfect backcourt pairing to play alongside Vasiljevic – well known for his dogged defence and streaking shooting.
Former NBA big man and fan favourite Montrezl Harrell has also put pen to paper, returning to the 36ers on a one-year deal – firming the Adelaide team as favourites for the elusive championship.
Speaking before the Cotton announcement, 36ers captain Vasiljevic admits his club got it wrong over the last two seasons, marred by off-court drama, including clashes between coach Mike Wells and former point guard Kendric Davis.
“I think you’ve got to do your intel when you recruit,” Vasiljevic says.
“I’m not saying KD and Trez are not great basketball players, but there were a lot of headaches, everyone butted heads at some point in the season.
When you are around someone every day for seven months, you’re going to pop off. We just want to recruit great guys to come in, do the work and try to help this team to a championship.”
While he only has two years left on his contract at the 36ers, Adelaide has quickly become not only his home, but a place he feels at home.
So much so, he’s started building a house in Roseworthy – a place which offers the best of both worlds for DJ.
His partner Paigan Impey, the sister of former Port Adelaide player and current Hawk Jarman, has also relocated to South Australia – a move he credits as helping him both on and off the court.
Despite growing up in vastly different cultures, Vasiljevic and Impey found comfort in their shared love for giving back to their respective communities.
“It’s been good to learn about each other’s cultures,” Vasiljevic says.
“She’s been able to tell me what she learned from her mum’s side and what she learned from her dad. You get to intertwine and see if anything aligns with your culture.
“You can tell one thing about her, she cares and she wants to help people.
“That’s what we kind of do in our community as well.
“We’re there for everyone, we’ll drop anything for anyone, so it’s been pretty cool to share that.”
The pair met while Vasiljevic was playing basketball in the off-season in Melbourne, where Impey worked in the Aboriginal Health Services sector.
The pair can often be spotted soaking up the sun along the SA coastline, enjoying a coffee at Joe’s Henley Beach at Henley Square or venturing to the McLaren Vale to enjoy some of South Australia’s world-renowned wines.
The proud Serbian has entrenched himself within the local community in Adelaide, becoming the number one ticket holder at Woodville-based FK Beograd.
He’s also been quick to give back on the court, hosting coaching clinics with his NBL1 club Forestville and mentoring aspiring athletes at St Michael’s College in Henley.
“I think remaining humble is the biggest thing for me,” he says.
“I’m just a regular guy who plays basketball. I want the next under-10 or 12 boy or girl to go ‘I want to be like him when I grow up’.”
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