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 (110 kg), he plays the center and power forward positions. Bitadze first rose to prominence in Serbian and Montenegrin basketball before becoming a first-round pick in the 2019 NBA draft.
Born in the small eastern Georgian town of Sagarejo, Bitadze developed his game through his school and junior clubs before turning professional at age 16. After earning widespread recognition as one of the top young big men in European basketball, he joined the Indiana Pacers and later moved on to the Orlando Magic, where he continues to play in the NBA.
Early Life and Background
Goga Bitadze was born in Sagarejo, a town in the Kakheti region of eastern Georgia. His father was a professional basketball player whose career was cut short by injury, providing an early connection to the sport even though Bitadze did not watch much basketball as a child. He began playing the game at the age of six because he described himself as active and tall.
As he grew more involved in the sport, Bitadze began idolizing Georgian players Zaza Pachulia and Tornike Shengelia, along with NBA stars Pau Gasol and Shaquille O’Neal. On 31 May 2013, he scored 17 points to help his school team Hyundai win the national under-14 championship over Gori. He also spent three seasons playing in the Georgian under-16 league and averaged 23.1 points, 16.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.8 blocks per game in his final under-16 campaign in 2014–15. Through these formative years, Bitadze trained in the junior ranks of Georgian club VITA Tbilisi.
Path to Professional Basketball
Bitadze’s path to professional basketball accelerated when he joined VITA Tbilisi for the 2015–16 VTB United League season. He made his debut at 16 and became the youngest player in league history, appearing in six games and averaging 2.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 13.8 minutes. That summer, on 2 December 2015, he signed with Mega Basket of the Basketball League of Serbia (KLS) and the ABA League, attracted by the club’s track record of producing NBA players such as Nikola Jokić and Ivica Zubac.
For the 2016–17 season, Mega loaned Bitadze to Serbian club Smederevo 1953. Through 19 games, he averaged 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. He debuted on 8 October 2016 with five points and four rebounds in a 75–71 loss to Borac Čačak and recorded a season-high 18 points on 29 October against Napredak Kruševac. He also led Mega’s junior team at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament, averaging 17.7 points and earning All-Tournament Team honors, signaling his transition toward a national-level professional career.
Goga Bitadze Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Bitadze returned to Mega Basket for the 2017–18 season and became a key member of the senior roster. Through 22 ABA League games he averaged 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks, and in 12 KLS games he averaged 15.9 points and 6.7 rebounds. He opened his season with 12 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in a 95–88 win over Cibona and scored a season-high 23 points versus Cedevita on 20 January 2018.
In January 2018, Bitadze briefly returned to Mega’s junior team and helped capture the Junior ABA League championship. He was named Junior ABA League MVP and earned Ideal Five recognition. On 24 April he posted 19 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks in a 92–90 loss to Mladost Zemun, and on 30 May he scored 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting in an 83–61 win over Vršac. He declared for the 2018 NBA draft on 12 April before withdrawing on 11 June.
Mega Basket and Budućnost Breakthrough (2018–2019)
To start the 2018–19 season, Bitadze continued starring for Mega Basket in the ABA League. In his season debut on 30 September he recorded 24 points and 12 rebounds in an 80–79 win over Igokea, and on 30 October he was named monthly MVP after recording 26 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks against Mornar Bar. Through 11 ABA League games, he averaged 20.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.
On 20 December 2018, Mega loaned Bitadze to Montenegrin club Budućnost, which was competing in the EuroLeague. He debuted for Budućnost on 24 December with 12 points and four rebounds versus Krka, and four days later made his EuroLeague debut with 17 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in a 93–88 loss to Bayern Munich. Over 13 EuroLeague games he averaged 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks and was named EuroLeague Rising Star as the top under-22 player in the competition. He also won the Montenegrin Cup with Budućnost in 2019, was named ABA League MVP and BLS Most Valuable Player, led the ABA League in blocks, and made the All-ABA League Team as the league’s top prospect.
Indiana Pacers Era (2019–2023)
On 20 April 2019, Bitadze declared for the 2019 NBA draft and was projected as a possible lottery pick. During media availability on 19 June, a viral photo showed him being ignored by reporters who surrounded eventual first overall pick Zion Williamson, prompting encouragement from NBA veterans such as Dwyane Wade and Draymond Green. On 20 June 2019, the Indiana Pacers selected him with the 18th overall pick, and on 15 July the Pacers announced they had signed him.
Bitadze made his NBA debut on 28 October 2019, coming off the bench in a 110–99 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers with two points and a rebound. Over three and a half seasons with Indiana, he developed into a rim-protecting reserve big man. On 9 February 2023, the Pacers waived Bitadze, ending his initial NBA chapter.
Orlando Magic Era (2023–Present)
On 13 February 2023, Bitadze signed with the Orlando Magic, joining the franchise midway through the 2022–23 season. The move gave him an opportunity to expand his role in a young, developing frontcourt. On 6 July 2024, he re-signed with the Magic, signaling the organization’s continued confidence in his size, shot-blocking and rebounding.
Bitadze has since served as a reliable interior presence for Orlando, contributing minutes at both center and power forward. His length and defensive instincts have fit well alongside the Magic’s core of athletic wings and versatile bigs.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bitadze is a classic big man whose game is built around his 6 ft 11 in frame, length and physicality. He excels as a rim protector and rebounder, using his size to anchor defenses in the paint. Offensively, he is most effective as a finisher around the basket, a roll man in pick-and-roll situations and a capable mid-range shooter when given space.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Bitadze’s signature achievements are being named the EuroLeague Rising Star in 2018–19, winning the Montenegrin Cup with Budućnost in 2019 and earning ABA League MVP honors that same season. He also captured the Junior ABA League championship and MVP award in 2018. At the NBA level, his selection as the 18th overall pick in the 2019 draft marked a milestone moment for Georgian basketball.
Goga Bitadze Career Wins
Across his professional career, Goga Bitadze has collected a series of individual awards and team titles at the European and NBA levels. His breakthrough 2018–19 campaign included the EuroLeague Rising Star honor, the Montenegrin Cup with Budućnost, ABA League MVP, BLS Most Valuable Player, All-ABA League Team selection, ABA League Top Prospect and the ABA League blocks title.
Junior ABA League Highlights
During the 2017–18 season, Bitadze helped Mega Basket’s junior team win the Junior ABA League championship. He averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds in the final tournament and was named league MVP along with Ideal Five recognition, capping a dominant stretch of youth competition.
Other Wins and Performances
At the international junior level, Bitadze represented Georgia at multiple FIBA Europe youth championships, including the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship Division B, where he averaged 14.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game for a fifth-place finish. He also competed at the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Division B and the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship Division B, posting strong rebounding and shot-blocking numbers throughout.
Goga Bitadze Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Goga Bitadze was raised in Sagarejo, Georgia, in a household with a clear basketball connection. His father was a professional basketball player whose career was ended prematurely by injury. This family background helped shape Bitadze’s early interest in the sport, even though he did not grow up watching much basketball.
Personal Life
Publicly available details about Bitadze’s personal life, including marital status, spouse and children, are not widely confirmed. He is known to have left Georgia as a teenager to pursue professional opportunities in Serbia, a transition he described as difficult because of the distance from his family and friends.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 calendar year, Goga Bitadze remains with the Orlando Magic after re-signing with the club on 6 July 2024. He continues to provide size, rim protection and interior scoring off the bench, while occasionally stepping into the starting lineup when matchups call for a traditional center.
On the international stage, Bitadze represented Georgia at EuroBasket 2025, where he led the team in scoring in blocks as Georgia advanced to the quarterfinals and upset France in the Round of 16. His growing leadership role with the senior national team has paralleled his continued development as a veteran NBA big man.
With the Magic working to build a competitive roster around its young core, Bitadze’s blend of size, experience and shot-blocking is expected to remain a key part of the team’s rotation throughout the 2025 season.