.
Arkadia Traiskirchen (2007–2008) Bjelica began playing basketball at Aca Janjić basketball school, before joining the
youth system of
KK Partizan. He began his professional career in the 2007–08 season with the
Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions of the
Austrian League, averaging 8.5 points in 26 games.
Crvena zvezda (2008–2010) After one season abroad, he returned to the Serbian team
Crvena zvezda, and spent two successful seasons there, under
head coach Svetislav Pešić. During the 2008–09 season, he made breakthroughs, and earned a place in the first lineup. He was particularly noted for his performance during the
EuroCup, for his outside shooting. Later in his career, Bjelica cited coach Pešić as one of the main reasons for his improvement as a player. Coach Pešić trusted Bjelica with the ball, and gave the 6"10 Bjelica a primary ball handler role on several occasions, which helped to develop Bjelica as a play-maker. Bjelica was drafted by the
Washington Wizards with the 35th pick of the
2010 NBA draft. His draft rights were then traded to the
Minnesota Timberwolves.
Saski Baskonia (2010–2013) In August 2010, Bjelica signed a five-year contract with Spanish club
Saski Baskonia. In his first season with the club, he didn't get much playing time, averaging only 9 minutes played per game. In his second season with Baskonia, he averaged 4.8 points per game, on 56% shooting from the field, and 47% shooting from 3 point range, three in 13 minutes played per game. His third and last season with the club was the most successful, as he played in 26 games, with the averages of 9.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1 steal per game, on 46% shooting from the field.
Fenerbahçe (2013–2015) On 22 July 2013, Bjelica signed a three-year deal with the Turkish team
Fenerbahçe Ülker, which was led by one of Europe's great coaches,
Željko Obradović. He cited Obradović as the main reason why he didn't go to the
NBA instead. In the 2013–14 season, he immediately became one of the key Fenerbahçe Ülker players, averaging career highs of 10.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game over 24 EuroLeague games. The following season, Bjelica's game saw its most improvement and consistency. On 30 March 2015, he was named the
EuroLeague MVP of the Month for March, his first such monthly award in his career. Over 4 games played in March, he averaged 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block per game. In May 2015, he was chosen to the
All-EuroLeague First Team, for his performances over the season. Eventually, Bjelica was named the
EuroLeague MVP of the season. Fenerbahçe also advanced to the
EuroLeague Final Four for the first time in the team's history. On 15 May 2015, however, they lost in the semifinal game to
Real Madrid, by a score of 87–96. Eventually, Fenerbahçe finished in 4th place, after losing in the third-place game to
CSKA Moscow, by a score of 80–86. Bjelica had his best season since coming to the club, averaging a career-high 12.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Fenerbahçe, however, finished the season without winning any trophy, after also losing in the semi-final series of the
Turkish League championship, to the eventual league champions
Pınar Karşıyaka. On 1 July 2015, Bjelica opted out of his contract with Fenerbahçe in order to play in the
NBA.
Minnesota Timberwolves (2015–2018) On 14 July 2015, Bjelica signed with the
Minnesota Timberwolves. He made his debut for the Timberwolves in their season opener on 28 October 2015, recording eight points and five rebounds in a 112–111 win over the
Los Angeles Lakers. On 7 November 2015, he had a season-best game with 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block against the
Chicago Bulls. On 7 April 2016, he scored a season-high 18 points against the
Sacramento Kings. Four days later, he recorded 11 points and a season-high 14 rebounds against the
Houston Rockets. On 13 November 2016, Bjelica made his first career start and scored a career-high 24 points in a 125–99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. On 16 March 2017, he was ruled out for the rest of the 2016–17 season with a left foot injury. He underwent surgery five days later to repair a fractured navicular bone in his left foot. Bjelica missed 15 games spanning November and December of the 2017–18 season with a sprained left foot. On 8 March 2018, he scored a career-high 30 points on 11-for-16 shooting, including 6 for 9 from 3-point range, in a 117–109 loss to the
Boston Celtics. He also had 12 rebounds to record his first 20–10 game in the NBA.
Sacramento Kings (2018–2021) On 21 July 2018, just days after backing out of a deal with the
Philadelphia 76ers with the intention of returning to Europe, Bjelica signed a three-year, $20.5 million contract with the
Sacramento Kings. In his first season with the club, Bjelica averaged 9.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. The
2019–20 NBA season was the best season Bjelica had since coming to the NBA, as he averaged 11.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists over 72 games. The season was
suspended in March as a result of
COVID-19 pandemic and Sacramento Kings were invited for 22-team
2020 NBA Bubble. Eventually, they did not manage to qualify for the
playoffs and finished the season with 31–41 record.
Miami Heat (2021) On 25 March 2021, Bjelica was traded to the
Miami Heat in exchange for
Maurice Harkless and
Chris Silva.
Golden State Warriors (2021–2022) On 6 August 2021, Bjelica signed with the
Golden State Warriors. He made his debut for the Warriors in their season opener on 19 October 2021, recording a
double-double off the bench with 15 points and 11 rebounds in a 121–114 win over the
Los Angeles Lakers. He became the first player to post a double-double off the bench in his Warriors debut since
Sam Williams (16 points, 12 rebounds) on 30 October 1981 at
Denver. During the
2022 NBA Finals, Bjelica held
Celtics star
Jayson Tatum to 0-6 shooting and 4 turnovers en route to his first NBA championship. He became the fourth
NBA player from Serbia who won the championship, joining
Darko Miličić,
Peja Stojaković, and
Ognjen Kuzmić.
Return to Fenerbahçe (2022–2023) On 9 August 2022, Bjelica signed a two-year deal to return to
Fenerbahçe Beko, where he was named the
EuroLeague MVP of the
2014-15 season. Bjelica made his season debut on 3 March 2023, after missing much of the season due to a calf injury. On 12 September 2023, Bjelica was released by Fenerbahçe. Hours after being released by Fenerbahçe, Bjelica signed a contract with Crvena zvezda. On 23 March 2024, Bjelica officially announced his retirement from professional basketball. ==National team career==