By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A new chapter is opening for Jaleen Smith after being labeled as a free agent nearing the midway point of the offseason.
Smith, 28, parted ways with ALBA Berlin and became a free agent, his agent Misko Raznatovic announced via a post shared on Twitter Wednesday.
Turning pro in 2017, he joined MLP Academics Heidelberg and switched to MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in 2019. The New Hampshire product spent the last two years with the team based in Berlin after being named MVP of the 2020-21 easyCredit BBL season at the bottom end of the successful stint at Ludwigsburg. He went on to be crowned champion of Germany’s top-flight division in 2022. In addition, he emerged as the naturalized player for Croatia in international action.
The latest on the upward trend, Smith averaged 11.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks per contest over 31 appearances in the 2022-23 edition of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with ALBA ending up at 11-23 and 16th out of 18 teams. A veteran of 64 games played in Europe’s premier club continental competition across the two-year spell with Albatrosse.
Packing 13.2 points, 3.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game painted the picture on the BBL portion of the season. His side ranked second in the BBL Regular Season behind a 31-3 record but was eliminated by seventh-seeded and later champion ratiopharm Ulm in the Quarterfinals of the Playoffs with the best-of-five series ending in four games.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net