By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After renewing the contract of head coach Giorgos Bartzokas, Olympiacos shifted into strengthening the squad and inked Joel Bolomboy to a one-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.
Bolomboy, 28, turned down the initial offer presented by the Reds, as reported by Eurohoops. Talks resuming led to the deal and him to the defending domestic league and cup champions of Greece.
The Ukraine-born big man played for CSKA since 2018 but exited the team based in Moscow in February due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His campaign in the 2021-22 season was cut short but produced 5.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, 0.3 assists, and 0.3 steals per contest in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, and 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.5 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 0.3 assists per game in the VTB United League.
Coming out of Weber State in 2016, the Utah Jazz picked him up with the 52nd overall pick of the NBA draft. Bolomboy’s career in the NBA stretched to 20 games played between the Jazz in 2016-17 and the Milwaukee Bucks the next season. Additional experience was gained in the G League with the Salt Lake City Stars and Wisconsin Herd, before heading to Moscow.
At CSKA, he was crowned EuroLeague champion in 2019 and also won the VTB in 2019 and 2021. During the stint, he became a Russian citizen in 2018 and represented Russia in ensuing international windows centered on the 2019 FIBA World Cup and 2022 EuroBasket Qualifiers. Born in Donetsk to a Congolese father and Russian mother, he grew up in Texas.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net