By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Getting ready for the 2023-24 edition of the Basketball Champions League, Bursaspor Info Yatirim signed experienced center Semih Erden.
Erden, 37, joined Anthony Brown, Ahmet Can Duran, Jordan Floyd, Johnny Hamilton, David Michineau, David Mutaf, Enes Berkay Taskiran, Metin Turen, Omer Utku Al, and Michael Young on the roster for head coach Jure Zdovc.
Playing for Turk Telekom last season, Erden added 7DAYS EuroCup, now BKT EuroCup, to the list of competitions. Averaging 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds per game was part of the Ankara outfit reaching the championship game.
Emerging as a late boost to the rebuild of Bursaspor, he carries the experience of 19 games played in FIBA Europe’s top-tier club continental competition between Pinar Karsiyaka and Besiktas Sompo Japan. His new side is slated to face Hapoel Holon, Telekom Baskets Bonn, and Rio Breogan in Group F of the approaching Regular Season.
With a lengthy career at the international level as well, Erden represented Turkey in multiple major competitions between 2005 and 2019, including capturing the silver medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
Alfonzo McKinnie lands in Italy
Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari complemented the 2023-24 roster with Alfonzo McKinnie, a veteran of 206 NBA games spread across the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors. The 31-year-old forward signed a one-year contract. In Europe for the first time in his career, new teammates stretch to Alessandro Cappelletti, Vasilis Charalampopoulos, Ousmane Diop, Luca Gandini, Stefano Gentile, Stephane Gombauld, Filip Kruslin, Riccardo Pisano, Tommaso Raspino, Kaspar Treier, Breein Tyree, and Stanley Whittaker.
Elsewhere in Group D of the Champions League Regular Season, AEK penned 23-year-old Alfis Pilavios to a one-year contract and King Wilki Morskie Szczecin tied 18-year-old Mateusz Samiec to a three-year contract. MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg is the fourth team of the group.
Moving to the Qualification Round pack, SIG Strasbourg picked up 28-year-old swingman Romuald Morency to replace injured Sofiane Briki. The lasting BCL original will face CBet in the first of three possible games toward a berth in the Regular Season.
Before the Qualifiers contest opposite Levicki Patrioti, Petrolina AEK Larnaca added 28-year-old Nick Griffin. Returning to Cyprus following stints with Omonia and Enosis Neon Paralimni, the newcomer will debut at the continental level.
On the way to taking on the Caledonia Gladiators in a Pre-Qualifier contest on Sunday, Fribourg Olympic penned rookie point guard Ross Williams to a three-month contract.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net