By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes thanked Krunoslav Simon and announced his jersey will be retired during the 2022-23 season on Friday.
Simon, 37, joined the Istanbul outfit in 2017 and has since been crowned champion in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague twice, 2021 and 2022. In 2019 and 2021, he helped his side capture the domestic league championship title. And was also the winner of a couple of Turkey Cups in 2018 and 2022, and a couple of Super Cups in 2018 and 2019. An even longer list of team achievements would be likely if the coronavirus pandemic did not strangle sports activities in Europe and Turkey for such a long period.
Forma Emekliliği uygulamamız kapsamında gelecek sezon forması salonumuzdaki yerini alacak Krunoslav Simon‘a, verdiği mücadele ve yaşattığı unutulmaz anlar için teşekkür ederiz!
“ELİNE SAĞLIK MALATYALI” #BenimYerimBurası pic.twitter.com/au4c0UZbWS
— Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) July 8, 2022
His 2021-22 campaign, severely impacted by injuries, produced 27 games played in EuroLeague with 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.1 blocks per contest. The Croatian sharpshooter also tucked in 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game in the BSL for the team coached by Ergin Ataman.
Efes became the first team since Olympiacos in 2013 to win back-to-back editions of EuroLeague and also lifted the Turkish Cup in Bursa but fell short of yet another championship in Turkey’s BSL losing to Fenerbahce Beko in the Finals.
Previous moves in the offseason added Egehan Arna, Amath M’Baye, Will Clyburn, and Ante Zizic to the squad. Also, Shane Larkin, Bugrahan Tuncer, Erten Gazi, and Bryant Dunston signed new contracts. James Anderson, Adrien Moerman, and Filip Petrusev were the previous players going to the exit.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net