Goga Bitadze Bio
Goga Bitadze (Georgian: გოგა ბითაძე; born 20 July 1999) is a Georgian professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Listed at 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) and 250 pounds (113 kg), he plays the center position. Standing as one of the most accomplished Georgian basketball exports of his generation, Bitadze has built a career that spans top European leagues and the NBA after being drafted 18th overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 2019 NBA draft.
Born in Sagarejo, Georgia, Bitadze began his professional career as a teenager in the VTB United League before moving to Serbia to develop his game with Mega Basket. Over the following years, he earned a series of regional and continental honors in European basketball before making the jump to the NBA, where he has continued to develop as a rim protector and interior scorer.
Early Life and Background
Bitadze was born in Sagarejo, a town in eastern Georgia. His father was a professional basketball player whose career was cut short by injury. Although Bitadze did not watch much basketball in his childhood, he started playing the game when he was six years old, explaining that he saw himself as active and tall. As he grew more involved in the sport, he began idolizing Georgian players Zaza Pachulia and Tornike Shengelia, as well as NBA stars Pau Gasol and Shaquille O’Neal.
On 31 May 2013, Bitadze scored 17 points to help his school team Hyundai win the national under-14 championship over Gori. He also played in the Georgian under-16 league for three years. In 2014–15, his final season with Hyundai at the under-16 level, Bitadze averaged 23.1 points, 16.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.8 blocks per game. Through his early career, Bitadze trained in the junior ranks of Georgian club VITA Tbilisi.
Path to Professional Basketball
Bitadze’s rise through the Georgian youth ranks was steady and impressive, highlighted by his dominant under-16 production with Hyundai. That performance drew the attention of VITA Tbilisi, where he was integrated into the senior setup for the 2015–16 season. Playing in the VTB United League, he made his professional debut at age 16, becoming the youngest player in league history, and posted averages of 2.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.7 blocks across six games.
Looking for a more structured development path, Bitadze signed with Mega Basket of the Basketball League of Serbia and the ABA League in December 2015. He was drawn to the club because it had produced many NBA players, including Nikola Jokić and Ivica Zubac, and he believed the Serbian league was well run. After a period of adjustment away from his family, he began producing at a high level with Mega’s junior team, helping the squad win the Torneo Città di Roma and earning a place on the All-Tournament Team at the 2016–17 Adidas Next Generation Tournament.
Goga Bitadze Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Bitadze’s first extended stretch of senior minutes came on loan with Smederevo 1953 during the 2016–17 season. Through 19 games in the Serbian KLS, he averaged 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, recording a season-high 18 points on multiple occasions. He also led the Mega junior team at the 2016–17 ANGT, averaging 17.7 points per game while pacing the tournament in rebounding and blocks.
Returning to Mega for the 2017–18 campaign, Bitadze became a key contributor for the senior side. In 22 ABA League games, he averaged 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks, while adding 15.9 points and 6.7 rebounds across 12 KLS appearances. He also helped Mega’s junior team capture the Junior ABA League championship in January 2018, earning Junior ABA League MVP and Ideal Five honors.
Mega Basket and Budućnost (2018–2019)
To open 2018–19, Bitadze continued to star for Mega in the ABA League, opening the season with a 24-point, 12-rebound performance against Igokea and later being named the league’s monthly MVP in late October. Through 11 ABA League games that season, he averaged 20.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, establishing himself as one of the top young big men in European basketball.
In December 2018, Bitadze was loaned to Montenegrin club Budućnost, which was competing in the top-tier EuroLeague. He made his EuroLeague debut on 28 December 2018 with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks against Bayern Munich and went on to average 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks across 13 EuroLeague contests. His play earned him the EuroLeague Rising Star award as the best under-22 player in the EuroLeague, and he also helped Budućnost win the Montenegrin Cup.
Indiana Pacers (2019–2023)
Bitadze declared for the 2019 NBA draft and was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 18th overall pick. During draft media availability, a photo of him standing alone while reporters surrounded Zion Williamson went viral, drawing supportive messages from NBA players such as Dwyane Wade and Draymond Green. He signed with the Pacers in July 2019 and made his NBA debut on 28 October 2019 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, recording two points and a rebound off the bench.
Over three-and-a-half seasons in Indiana, Bitadze developed into a rotation big man, offering shot-blocking and frontcourt depth for the Pacers. He was waived by the team on 9 February 2023, ending his first NBA chapter.
Orlando Magic (2023–Present)
On 13 February 2023, Bitadze signed with the Orlando Magic on a rest-of-season contract, quickly establishing a role as a defensive-minded center. On 6 July 2024, he re-signed with the Magic on a three-year, $25 million contract, signaling the franchise’s long-term confidence in his development. Since arriving in Orlando, Bitadze has been a key interior presence, contributing rim protection, screening and stretching the floor from the center spot.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bitadze combines the size of a traditional center with a smooth shooting touch from the perimeter, allowing him to space the floor while still protecting the rim. He is at his best when he can patrol the paint as a shot-blocker and rebound, then step out and knock down mid-range jumpers or trail threes. His basketball IQ, drawn from years of European competition, has helped him thrive in team-oriented systems on both ends of the floor.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Bitadze’s most memorable career moments is his viral draft-night photograph from the 2019 NBA draft, an image that has come to symbolize perseverance and quiet confidence. On the court, his EuroLeague Rising Star honor in 2019, ABA League MVP award the same year, and a strong debut stretch with the Orlando Magic all stand out as signature milestones in a still-young career.
Goga Bitadze Career Wins
Bitadze’s trophy case is anchored by an exceptional 2018–19 European season, in which he swept top individual awards and added a Montenegrin Cup title with Budućnost. The following year, he transitioned to the NBA, where his statistical success has been measured in impact and consistency rather than headline honors. In 2025, he added another milestone by helping Georgia reach the quarterfinals of EuroBasket 2025, including a Round of 16 victory over France.
NBA Highlights
Since entering the NBA in 2019, Bitadze has carved out a role as a dependable backup center, valued for his shot-blocking and floor spacing. His most recent NBA contract, a three-year, $25 million deal signed in July 2024, reflects his standing within the Orlando Magic organization. While he has not yet claimed major individual NBA awards, his continued presence in the team’s rotation speaks to the trust he has earned from the coaching staff.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the NBA, Bitadze’s most decorated stretch came in 2019, when he earned EuroLeague Rising Star, ABA League MVP, ABA League Top Prospect, ABA League blocks leader, BLS Most Valuable Player, and All-ABA League Team honors, along with a Montenegrin Cup title with Budućnost. In 2018, he was a Junior ABA League champion, Junior ABA League MVP and All-Junior ABA League Team selection. In 2025, he led Georgia in blocks at EuroBasket 2025 as the team advanced to the quarterfinals.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|
Goga Bitadze Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Bitadze’s path into basketball was shaped by his father, who was a professional basketball player in Georgia before his career was cut short by injury. That family connection to the game, combined with his own natural size and athleticism, helped set the foundation for his rise through the Georgian youth system.
Personal Life
Public details about Bitadze’s personal life, including his marital status and family beyond his father, are not widely documented. He is known to have spoken openly about the difficulty of leaving his family and friends behind as a teenager to pursue his career in Serbia, a sacrifice he has credited with helping him grow as both a player and a person.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been a defining one for Bitadze. On the NBA side, he continued his role with the Orlando Magic under the three-year, $25 million contract he signed in July 2024, serving as a key interior contributor for a young Magic roster. His combination of rim protection and perimeter shooting has remained central to Orlando’s developmental plans.
Internationally, Bitadze starred for Georgia at EuroBasket 2025, leading the team in blocks as Georgia advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament. The run included a notable Round of 16 victory over France, one of the biggest results in Georgian basketball history, with Bitadze anchoring the defense in the paint.
Looking ahead, Bitadze’s outlook is strong on both fronts. He remains a long-term piece of the Orlando Magic’s frontcourt and a central figure for the Georgian national team, with continued opportunities to add to his legacy in European and international competition.
