By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
From joining at the age of 15, Arturs Kurucs parts ways with Baskonia eight years later.
Kurucs, 23, was released to officially become a free agent Monday.
Since joining the youth team, the Latvian point guard was loaned to VEF Riga to develop in his home country through the 2019-20 season. Returning to Baskonia, he earned a regular role with the senior team over the last three seasons of his multiyear contract. He logged 70 appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Overall, he played in 161 games with the team based in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Coming off the bench for 23 features in the 2022-23 edition of Europe’s premier club competition, he tallied 1.5 points, 0.9 assists, and 0.3 rebounds per contest. Enjoying more playing time in Spain’s Liga Endesa, he averaged 4.3 points and 1.4 assists per game.
Named in the preliminary roster and preparing for possible participation with Latvia in the approaching FIBA World Cup, Kurucs carries international experience from the Qualiers of the 2023 World Cup and 2022 EuroBasket. He was also a regular across the country’s junior national teams.
Baskonia moving forward
Coming off narrowly missing the EuroLeague Playoffs and an upsetting exit in the Quarterfinals of the ACB Playoffs, the team coached by returning Joan Penarroya will be looking to bounce back in the 2023-24 editions of both the continental and domestic leagues. Acquired during the offseason, Khalifa Diop, Nico Mannion, Codi Miller-McIntyre, Chima Moneke, and Nikos Rogkavopoulos are the new additions to the squad.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net