Michael Ruzic is an 18-year-old forward from Croatia who put out an exceptional performance at the just-concluded 2025 NBA Draft Combine as the event’s youngest participant.
He stands at 6’11” with a skill set that indicates a bright future. He stepped onto the court in Chicago facing a steep challenge: competing against older and more physically developed prospects.
Michael Ruzic’s Background and Rise to the NBA Combine
Ruzic played for Joventut Badalona in Spain’s top league, where he gained experience against pros, which, of course, is a rare advantage for someone his age. In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 3.2 points and 1.6 rebounds across 24 games, shooting 50% from the field.
He had his best outing against Casademont Zaragoza, where he dropped 13 points, showing he can step up when given the opportunity to display. He is set apart by his ability to shoot from outside, handle the ball, and make smart plays—traits that earned him an invitation to the combine despite his limited professional records.
Michael Ruzic’s Challenges Against Tough Combine Matchups
The combine pitted Ruzic against some of the draft class’s most physical bigs, and those matchups told a clear story. Older prospects with thicker builds pushed him around in the post, forcing him into tough spots. Rebounding was a particular struggle; his long arms helped, but he couldn’t always secure the ball in traffic.
18-year-old Croatian 7-footer Michael Ruzic was the youngest player at the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages. He had a tough task matching up with older, more physical big men. Time is on Ruzic’s side, as he showed flashes of his skill, timing and feel, but didn’t look ready overall. pic.twitter.com/0WfgPAG22W
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 16, 2025
On defense, he held his own at times by using his reach to contest shots, but stronger players muscled past him too easily, a key spot he will need to put in more work in developing.
What Lies Ahead for Michael Ruzic Post-Combine
Heading into the 2025 draft, Ruzic sits firmly in the first round, likely in the mid-to-late range. His stock could climb if he shows progress in the months ahead, especially with workouts and pre-draft camps still to come.
Teams that value upside over immediate impact, like rebuilding squads or those with deep benches, will see him as a stash-and-develop gem.
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The combine was a proving ground, but it also laid out his to-do list. Adding 15-20 pounds of muscle is the priority, giving him the heft to bang with NBA forwards. Shooting consistency will also decide how quickly he carves out a role; if he can hit 35-38% from three early on, he’ll find minutes fast.
Defensively, he’s got to turn his length into a weapon, not just a tool.
He’ll likely spend the spring grinding in the gym, tweaking his shot, and at the same time packing on size. How he looks by June could swing his draft slot by 5-10 picks either way. For now, one would say he is a name to watch, a player who held his own against men and came out with more believers than doubters.
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