By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The contract is for two seasons with an option for the 2019-20 campaign. Ponkrashov (2.00 meters, 31 years old) has spent the past two-and-a-half seasons with Unics. He averaged 6.4 points and 3.8 assists in the EuroLeague last season in an injury-shortened campaign. Those numbers were higher – 9.3 points and 5.3 assists – in three starts before injury struck.
Ponkrashov started his career in his native St. Petersburg before joining CSKA Moscow in 2006-07, when he helped the club reach the EuroLeague championship game and win both the Russian League and Russian Cup. After that Ponkrashov spent two seasons with Khimki Moscow Region, which he helped win the 2008 Russian Cup and reach the 2009 EuroCup title game. Ponkrashov has since spent two more seasons with CSKA and boasts three Russian titles, two VTB United League crowns and a pair of Russian Cups from his time with CSKA. He has also played for Krasnie Krilya Samara, Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar and Krasny Oktybar Volgograd. Ponkrashov has been a regular with the Russian national team. He won a gold medal at EuroBasket 2007 and bronze medals at EuroBasket 2011 and at the 2012 Olympic Games.