Andrea Bargnani to Laboral Kutxa: Latest Contract Details and Reaction
After 10 NBA seasons, center Andrea Bargnani signed a two-year deal with Spain's Laboral Kutxa of the EuroLeague on Tuesday, per EuroLeague.net.
Bargnani most recently spent the 2015-16 season with the Brooklyn Nets, averaging a career-low 6.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game.
The Italian native made his name with the Toronto Raptors, the team that chose him No. 1 overall in 2006. He was the first European ever to be selected first in the NBA Draft.
In seven seasons with Toronto, the 7-footer was one of the most versatile scorers in the league for a player his size.
He shot over 36 percent from three-point range while averaging 15.2 points per game as both a power forward and center with the Raptors. Despite his size, he could run the floor and attack the hoop as well:
However, Bargnani battled injury issues he just couldn't shake. After appearing in just 66 games with the Raptors between 2011 to 2013, he was dealt to the Knicks, where he managed to put up similar numbers, averaging 13.9 points per game in two seasons.
But injuries limited him in New York as well, missing a combined 93 games in his two seasons there as he was unable to provide regular minutes from the 5 in a Knicks offense desperate to find a supporting scorer for Carmelo Anthony.
A move to Brooklyn last season didn't help either, as he played just 46 games due to nagging calf issues. He spoke with Tim Bontemps of the New York Post about his inability to stay healthy: "That’s the worst thing I’ve endured in my career, is sitting out so many games. You just sit and you work and try to keep working, being there with your head, and you try to do as much as possible so you don’t go crazy."
With his NBA career having fizzled out, a change of scenery back to his home continent could resurrect the 30-year-old's professional career.
Bargnani spent three years with Italian side Benetton Treviso of the EuroLeague before being drafted by the Raptors, so he is familiar with the level of competition it provides.
Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.
