By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nick Calathes becomes an AS Monaco player shortly after parting ways with Fenerbahce Beko.
He signed a two-year contract, the team announced on Monday, a few hours after being officially released from his contract with the Istanbul outfit.
Previewing a huge signing, Eurohoops reported on his agreement with La Roca Team.
“There are a lot of great players,” he talked about his decision to join the back-to-back champions of France’s Betclic Elite.
Monaco is his fourth team in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, following Panathinaikos, Barcelona, and Fener.
“I have a good relationship with Mike since we played together at Panathinaikos. We always stayed in touch,” Calathes commented on reuniting with Mike James, the leading star of Monaco, “He was one of the main reasons I chose to sign with Monaco. I think we could play well together once more. It would be great to have a chance to win a title with him.”
Long before becoming EuroLeague’s all-time leader in assists and steals, Calathes was crowned champion in Europe’s premier club continental competition. In 2011, during the first of two stints with Panathinaikos. In 2018 and 2019, he was named in the All-EuroLeague First Team.
Last season, he tallied 7.1 points, 4.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per contest, including a couple of clutch buckets helping his former team edge out his new team in a crazy best-of-five series.
“The playoff series against Monaco was certainly among the most important I was a part of,” he mentioned, “I played in many big series at Panathinaikos and also at Barcelona. So, I have been to the Playoffs a lot. This was one of the biggest and toughest.”
Calathes, 35, is the first summer addition for Monaco.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net