By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Jonas Jerebko penned a two-year contract with Khimki Moscow Region, the EuroLeague participant announced on Wednesday confirming recent reports on nearing a deal with the 32-year-old Swedish forward. He is now set for his debut in Europe’s premier competition.
After 10 NBA seasons, Jerebko will return to the old continent at club level. “I’m just excited about this great opportunity to play for one of the best teams in Europe. I’m looking forward to playing in the top level in Europe after 10 years in the NBA” he noted upon signing.
“Playing against the best teams in the EuroLeague was obviously on my bucket list” he added and went on: “I’m super excited about the opportunity of joining my teammates. I’ve obviously known everything about the team, and the coaches. We have great Russian players.”
On the Russian capital: “I’ll be glad to know the city of Moscow and Russia where I’ve never been before. I’m from Europe, Sweden, and I’ve been playing for the national team. We’ve played Russia in the European championship last time, so I’m kind of used to European games, so I don’t think it’s gonna be a hard transition at all.”
“I’m just excited to showcase my talent again in Europe, playing for Khimki fans” he also mentioned and already picked out his favorite teammate: “I’m also excited to play with Alexey Shved, a very talented player”.
Jerebko took part in 683 NBA matches since he was picked 39th in the 2009 draft. He averaged 6.2 points and 4 rebounds per regular season game, had 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per playoffs contest as well. He wore the jersey of the Detroit Pistons, the Boston Celtics, the Utah Jazz and most recently of the Golden State Warriors.
“Jonas is a very good player who can play both at four and five positions. He is coming from the NBA where he showed good results and spectacular basketball, even playing in the 2019 NBA Finals” his new coach Rimas Kurtinaitis took out.
The 59-year-old Lithuanian head coach added: “I have known Jerebko since 2009 when I coached him in Treviso preseason camp. I’m very happy we have signed him. Now he have closed our transfer campaign. I’m happy for all the players we have signed. Now it will be our job as coaches how to make a team from these players”.
Khimki got even deeper with its latest summer addition. The Russian team that also participates in the VTB United League previously acquired Dairis Bertans, Devin Booker, Andrey Desiatnikov, Jeremy Evans, Stefan Jovic, Sergey Karasev, Chris Kramer, Timofey Mozgov, Janis Timma and Evgeny Valiev.