By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Khem Birch is a new player of Fenerbahce Beko in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi.
Birch, 31, inked a one-year contract, the team announced on Wednesday.
The deal includes an in-season exit clause, as reported by Eurohoops on Tuesday.
Resurfacing in Europe’s premier club continental competition, he placed alongside Wade Baldwin IV, Tarik Biberovic, Metecan Birsen, Bonzie Colson, Erten Gazi, Marko Guduric, Devon Hall, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Melih Mahmutoglu, Nicolo Melli, Yigit Hamza Mestoglu, Dyshawn Pierre, Sertac Sanli, Scottie Wilbekin, and Arturs Zagars on the team coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius.
Also on the roster, Croatian Luka Samanic returned to his home country for personal reasons, as announced by the team based in Istanbul on Tuesday. However, Birch is projected to replace him.
The newcomer was featured in 37 EuroLeague games during the 2016-17 season as a member of Olympiacos. He spent the next six years in the NBA, logging 298 games played between the Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic, Last season, he played in Spain’s Liga Endesa with Girona, averaging 8.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest over 12 appearances.
Earlier in his professional career marked the first appearance in Turkiye. After splitting his NCAA career between UNLV and Pittsburgh, and launching his professional career in the G League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Birch enjoyed a breakout campaign with Muratbey Usak Sportif, helping the team reach the BSL Playoffs.
An international player for Canada, his experience in major tournaments expanded to the 2024 Olympic Games. He put up 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game over four games between Lille and Paris. The Montreal native previously played in the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2016 FIBA Qualifying Tournament in Manila.