By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
South East Melbourne Phoenix announced the deal between their player John Roberson and Galatasaray Doga Sigorta. However, the new member of the club will arrive in Istanbul after the 16th of February.
Per the press release: South East Melbourne Phoenix guard John Roberson has signed with the Turkish EuroCup club Galatasaray for the NBL off-season.
Roberson has starred for the Phoenix this season, averaging over 20 points per game and breaking the NBL 40-minute era record for three-pointers in a season by a significant margin.
The 31-year-old has previously played for multiple European clubs in his professional career. “It’s a great opportunity at one of the great clubs in Europe,” Roberson told Phoenix Media.
“It just seems like the right move right now. It’s a great opportunity for me to go right after the season because I’m in good shape. “I’ve played in Europe for eight years, so I know the level, I know the competition.”
Roberson is not contracted for the 2020/21 NBL season, but the Phoenix are currently involved in ongoing discussions regarding a possible return to the Heartland.
He says he’d love the chance to return. “It’s a possibility,” Roberson said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’d love to come back to Melbourne and play with South East Melbourne.”
South East Melbourne host Sydney at Melbourne Arena on Sunday and Roberson is desperate to finish the season with a few more wins.
“We’re going to fight until the end,” he said. “It’s just about us executing. We’ve been in every game; I think we’ve lost a lot of close ones this year and we’re due for one.
“We just want to finish on a good note and give the fans what they deserve because they’ve been with us all season.” Roberson will join Galatasaray following the Phoenix’s final game against Melbourne United.