By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Adding to the strong start to the offseason, Panathinaikos is set to sign combo guard Luca Vildoza.
Vildoza, 27, has a deal and will ink a two-year contract to join the team based in Athens, according to Eurohoops sources.
Rumors linking the Greens to the veteran of seven NBA Playoffs games with the Milwaukee Bucks surfaced during the 2022-23 season but were then denied. At the end of the day and following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season as a member of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet, he will indeed arrive in Greece projected to be a key player for new head coach Ergin Ataman.
‼️ Pending medical exams, #LucaVildoza has a done deal with #PanathinaikosBC. He will sign for two years. Official announcement expected in upcoming days
✍️ More on @EurohoopsGR & @Eurohoopsnet
— StavrosBarbarousis (@sta_ba11) June 22, 2023
At the end of the lengthy stint at Kirolbet / TD Systems Baskonia and after recovering from injury, the international Argentina guard logged seven games played in the 2022 NBA Playoffs alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. Among 2023 NBA Preseason cuts made by the Bucks, he switched to Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet last October.
Putting in 12.6 points, 3.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per contest over 29 appearances described the most recent campaign in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Upping his total of games played to 135 was the additional prize, combined with the spell at Baskonia. In additional 2022-23 action in the AdmiralBet ABA League, he averaged 9.5 points, 3.8 assists, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game.
Besides hiring Ataman, Panathinaikos opened offseason player additions by inking Kostas Antetokounmpo to a two-year contract Thursday. More to come, including Vildoza, heading to the 2023-24 edition of the EuroLeague and Greece’s domestic competitions.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net