By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The next challenge for Rodney McGruder is with Umana Reyer Venice.
His addition was announced on Friday.
After logging 327 appearances in the NBA, McGruder used his overseas options to join EA7 Emporio Armani Milan last January and parted ways with the Italian club due to a personal matter in March. Six months later, he returned to Italy but at the continental level switched from the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague to BKT EuroCup.
With Scarpette Rosse, the Maryland native was limited to seven games in the EuroLeague and fell shy of debuting in Italy’s LBA UnipolSai. The brief spell with Ettore Messina’s side was attached to 7.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per contest.
At the second-tier club continental competition of Euroleague Basketball, the former Kansas State standout will play alongside Davide Casarin, Tyler Ennis, Juan Fernandez, Giga Janelidze, Mfiondu Kabengele, Alessandro Lever, Davide Moretti, Xavier Munford, Jordan Parks, Aamir Simms, Amedeo Tessitori, Carl Wheatle and Kyle Wiltjer, under the guidance of Neven Spahija.
Starting the 2024-25 campaign, Venice went to 1-1 in Group B of the EuroCup Regular Season behind a home win against Aris Midea and a loss to Cedevita Olimpija in Stozice Arena. Up next in the 18-game double-legged round-robin schedule, JL Bourg visits Palasport Taliercio on Tuesday.
An 0-1 tally paints the domestic picture following a home loss to NutriBullet Treviso. A road challenge opposite fellow EuroCup participant Dolomiti Energia Trento follows in Round 2 of the LBA Regular Season on Saturday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net