Account
Euroleague G Nando De Colo Plans to Enter NBA Free Agency After 5-Year Absence
June 21, 2019
Guard Nando De Colo plans to return to the NBA after spending the past five years playing overseas, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
"I have asked my agents to explore NBA opportunities over the coming weeks," the 32-year-old De Colo told Wojnarowski. "I am excited for the next challenge in my career."
De Colo previously announced that he would be leaving his Russian club, CSKA Moscow. Per Eurohoops.net, De Colo said he had "achieved everything possible with CSKA" and was looking for a "new challenge."
Taken by the San Antonio Spurs with the 53rd overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft, De Colo did not come over to the United States until 2012. He spent two seasons in the Association, suiting up for the Spurs from 2012-14 before being traded to the Toronto Raptors to finish out the 2013-14 campaign.
He averaged 3.8 points on 42.9 percent shooting, including 36.3 percent from three-point range, while playing 11.9 minutes per game in his previous NBA stint.
De Colo spent the last five years in Russia. This past season, he averaged 14.7 points per game while shooting 43.1 percent from beyond the arc. That performance helped CSKA Moscow win its second championship since 2016.
Not only is De Colo a two-time EuroLeague champ, but he was the 2016 EuroLeague MVP and was selected All-EuroLeague in each of his five seasons, making the first team three times.
According to Wojnarowski, Toronto still holds the rights to De Colo. The defending champs would be able to extend a qualifying offer to the guard, giving them the right to match any offer sheet he signs. If the Raptors decline to make a qualifying offer, De Colo would become an unrestricted free agent.