Category: International Basketball Blog

International basketball blog

Carlos Arroyo signs in Barcelona

Here’s Euroleague.net reporting on a well-known former NBA point guard and international star, Carlos Arroyo:

Carlos Arroyo signs in Barcelona

FC Barcelona Lassa found a new point guard in Carlos Arroyo, who inked a one-year deal with his new team on Friday. Arroyo (1.88 meters, 35 years old) has played for Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul in the last three seasons. He averaged 12.5 points and 4.3 assists in 15 Turkish Airlines Euroleague games last season. Arroyo went on to play for Cangrejeros de Santurce, averaging 14.7 points and 6.5 assists in 39 Puerto Rican League games, leading his team to the finals. He has also played for Toronto, Denver, Utah, Detroit, Orlando, Miami and Boston of the NBA, Tau Ceramica Vitoria of Spain, Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel and Besiktas Istanbul of Turkey.

Carmelo Anthony may join August Team USA mini-camp

Here’s the New York Post reporting that Carmelo Anthony still has interest in Team USA, which is not involved in international competition this summer but is sorting itself out for 2016:

Carmelo Anthony may join August Team USA mini-camp

Carmelo Anthony chose not to come to Las Vegas to catch a Knicks summer league game or attend the Players Choice Awards or union meetings, but he will be descending on Sin City next month for the red, white and blue.

According to a source, Anthony has informed U.S. Olympic Team officials he will attend the Aug. 11-13 minicamp as the team gears up for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Anthony is still rehabbing from February’s left-knee surgery so he will not be a fully active participant, according to a source. Team USA CEO Jerry Colangelo has encouraged roster members to come to the minicamp even if they can’t play due to injury.

Former Celtic Gigi Datome signs overseas

Former Celtic Gigi Datome signs overseas

Here’s the Boston Herald reporting on a former Celtic who was not going to be a part of the team’s future:

As much as Gigi Datome wanted a chance to sign with an NBA team, where he could play a regular role this summer, the former Celtics guard finally decided his best opportunity was back on the international circuit — this time with the Turkish team Fenerbahce.

Datome, who had lost hope with the Celtics as they focused on their frontcourt with their most recent moves, has reportedly signed a three-year deal worth just shy of $2 million per season.

Datome, 27, posted both thanks to the NBA and hopes for his new team last night on his Facebook page.

Charles Jenkins signs in Italy

Here’s Eurocupbasketball.com reporting on a name NBA fans will recognize:

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan bolstered its backcourt by signing shooting guard Charles Jenkins on Wednesday. Jenkins (1.91 meters, 26 years old) spent the past two seasons with Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade, and helped the club reach Euroleague Top 16 and win the domestic triple crown – Serbian League, Serbian Radivoj Korac Cup and Adriatic League last season with a key role coming off the bench. He also led Zvezda to the Eurocup semifinals in the 2013-14 season. He averaged 6.6 points, 1.3 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 24 Euroleague games last season.

Nemanja Bjelica headed to Timberwolves

It’s always fun to see how players who have achieved success in the Euroleague wind up doing in the NBA. It’s an adjustment. And in general, even within the same league, a player’s role in one system isn’t nearly as successful in another.

As for the Timberwolves, here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune reporting

The Turkish team Fenerbahce Ulker overnight announced that Euroleague MVP Nemanja Bjelica has exercised an opt clause in his contract to leave for the NBA,

That clears the way for the Wolves to sign him, five years after David Kahn drafted him 35th overall in the 2010 NBA draft.

Expect Bjelica to sign a three-year deal worth at least $12 million, possibly more. The Wolves will use a good portion of their mid-level exception to sign him.

He was under contract with Fenerbahce until the clock struck midnight last night.

Euroleague: Felipe Reyes stays with Real Madrid

Here’s Euroleague.net with an update on a key veteran in Spain:

Five weeks after he lifted the Turkish Airlines Euroleague trophy as team captain, veteran big man Felipe Reyes and Real Madrid have agreed to a new two-year contract. Reyes (2.04 meters, 35 years old) was named to the All-Euroleague First Team last season after posting 10.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 19 minutes on average over 30 Euroleague games. He ranked third among all Euroleague players in offensive rebounds, with 2.5 per game, and sixth in per-minute production, prorated to a performance index rating of 27.85 over 40 minutes. Reyes also became the Euroleague’s all-time leader in total rebounds midway through last season. He is Real Madrid’s longest-serving player, with 11 seasons on the club, after having played the first six of his career with another Madrid club, Estudiantes. Reyes also won the 2007 Eurocup title with Real Madrid.

India native Satnam Singh selected in NBA Draft by Mavs

The Dallas Mavericks announced that they have selected center Satnam Singh with the 52nd overall selection of the 2015 NBA Draft.

Singh (7-2, 290) last played for IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), where he averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game during the 2014-15 season.

A native of Chawke, India, Singh has represented the India national basketball team at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship and the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen will join staff of German national team this summer

The German Basketball Federation announced today that Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen will join the coaching staff of the German men’s national team this summer. He will join Head Coach Chris Fleming during the preparation heading into the European Championship, also known as EuroBasket 2015, from Sept. 5 – 20. The preliminary round featuring Germany, Spain, Serbia, Turkey, Italy and Iceland will be played in Berlin, Germany. The best four teams will advance to the final round in Lille, France.

“Alex is a big asset for our national team,” said Head Coach Fleming. “He has proven at multiple places to be a coach who can develop young players. The dynamic improved performance of Rudy Gobert at the Jazz has a lot to do with the excellent work of Alex. He played for several years in Europe and is very well versed in international basketball.”

Jensen is entering his third season as a member of the Jazz coaching staff. Before joining the Jazz, Jensen spent two seasons (57-43, .557) as the first-ever head coach of the Canton Charge of the D-League from 2011-13, advancing the Cleveland Cavaliers-owned team to the playoffs in both seasons. He was named the 2013 Dennis Johnson NBA D-League Coach of the Year after leading the Charge to a franchise-best 30 victories and an East Division title. Jensen then coached the D-League Select Team in the 2013 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, leading his squad to a 4-1 record against NBA team entries and advancing them to the quarterfinals of the inaugural summer league tournament. Jensen began his coaching career as an assistant under Rick Majerus at Saint Louis University from 2007-11.

A native of Bountiful, Utah, Jensen attended Viewmont High School there, leading the Vikings to a state basketball title as a junior and was named Utah’s Mr. Basketball in 1994. Jensen played four seasons at the University of Utah (1994-95, 1997-00) under Majerus and helped the Utes to the NCAA Championship game in 1998. Following his collegiate career, Jensen played seven professional seasons in Turkey and one season with the Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA. While playing in Europe, Jensen was named All-FIBA Europe Cup Defender of the Year in 2004, along with being named to the All-FIBA Europe Cup First Team.

Celtics playing October preseason game in Milan, Italy

Boston Celtics playing October preseason game in Milan, Italy

Here’s the WEEI blog reporting on the Boston Celtics, who are playing an international exhibition game in October:

The Celtics will be going international to open their preseason this fall.

The NBA, in conjunction with Euroleague Basketball and RCS Sport, confirmed Wednesday that the Celtics will play a preseason game on Oct. 6 against Olimpia Milano in Milan, Italy, as part of NBA Global Games Europe 2015.

The 17-time NBA champion will play the three-time Euroleague champion and 26-time Italian League champion Olimpia Milano at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan.

“On behalf of the Celtics organization, we are proud to return to Milan for NBA Global Games 2015,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said in a statement. “I have particularly fond memories of playing in Europe almost 30 years ago, and I am sure our current players will relish this unique opportunity.”