By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Kostas Koufos has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the Russian club announced. The Greek center is going to play in Europe for the first time in his career by joining the roster of the reigning EuroLeague champions.
According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Koufos’ contract will earn him $6 million. The deal includes an out option for CSKA after the first year, plus an NBA opt-out that Koufos can exercise in 2020 to possibly return to the NBA.
“Kostas is bringing here 11 years of NBA experience, experience at the highest level of basketball. He has said to me many times that he still has a big amount of will and energy in his tank. We are awaiting him in Moscow, look forward to seeing him on the court and to achieving many goals together at CSKA,” CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said per the club’s website.
Koufos, 30, is a veteran of a 10-year NBA experience and 723 games in the league with the Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and the Sacramento Kings. He averaged 3.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 12.0 minutes over 42 games with the Kings in 2018-2019.
Koufos has been a player of the Greek youth and senior national team. He participated in the EuroBasket 2009 (winning the bronze medal) and the 2016 Olympic Qualifiers Tournament with the senior squad.