By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After seven years in the NBA, Frank Ntilikina was looking toward resuming his career in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Ntilikina, 25, went from considering his options to nearing a deal with Partizan Mozzart Bet, according to Serbian outlet Meridian sport. The Belgrade outfit confirmed his addition on a two-year contract, later Thursday.
The main focus of the offseason is representing the hosting country France in the 2024 Olympic Games. A regular at the junior level, he was named tournament MVP and captured gold in the 2016 FIBA U18 European Championship. Jumping to the senior national team, he helped his country win bronze medals in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. He also played in the 2020 Olympic Games held in 2021. However, he missed the 2022 EuroBasket and 2023 World Cup.
Before logging 336 appearances in the NBA, Ntilikina entered the league as the eighth pick of the draft in 2017, selected by the New York Knicks. From four years at the Big Apple and two with the Dallas Mavericks, he joined the Charlotte Hornets before the 2023-24 season. After putting up 1.0 points and 1.2 rebounds per contest over five games, he was waived in February.
Highlighting his stint with SIG Strasbourg from 2015 to 2017, Ntilikina played in four games of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, five games of the 7DAYS EuroCup, and 14 games of the Basketball Champions League.
Reinforcing the wing positions, the team coached by Zeljko Obradovic previously signed Gabriel Iffe Lundberg and Vanja Marinkovic.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL