By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
One year after being initially slated to debut in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Shabazz Napier being linked to Crvena Zvezda mts resurfaces the opportunity.
Napier, 30, has been inactive since the 2019-20 season. Last July, he penned a one-year contract with Zenit Saint Petersburg but picked up an injury in the preseason and while projected to return to action instead departed in February following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the persisting war in the country of Eastern Europe.
The American point guard, eligible to play for Puerto Rico at the international level, has signed a deal to join Zvezda, as reported by Serbian outlet Telesport. Finally displaying his talents in Europe and at the highest level of club continental competitions can be coming up to resume his career.
Coming out of the University of Connecticut as a two-time NCAA champion, he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 24th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. He went on to appear in 354 games producing 7.0 points, 2.4 assists, 1.9 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.1 blocks per contest between the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Washington Wizards.
The team based in Belgrade has hired Vlada Jovanovic as the new head coach and strengthened the roster with John Holland, Hassan Martin, and Nemanja Nedovic. With Ognjen Dobric, Nikola Ivanovic, Stefan Lazarevic, Branko Lazic, Stefan Markovic, Luka Mitrovic, and Aaron White on board from the 2021-22 squad, adding a couple more guards and a big man presumably would complete the 2022-23 roster.
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