Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has exercised its third-year option on center Kosta Koufos for the 2010-11 season. Per team policy, financial terms were not released.
Koufos (7-0, 265, Ohio State) appeared in 48 games (seven starts) as a rookie in 2008-09, averaging 4.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per game. In 10 games (all starts) for the Utah Flash of the NBA D-League, Koufos posted 16.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.0 assists in 29.8 minutes per game. A dual citizen of both Greece and the United States, he competed for Greece in the 2009 EuroCup.
Originally drafted by the Jazz in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, Koufos played one season for Ohio State, where he averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 rebounds in 37 games, earning NIT MVP honors after leading the Buckeyes to the 2008 NIT title.
