By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Projected to become a free agent, Branko Lazic instead renewed his contract with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet.
Lazic, 35, penned a two-year contract extension, the team announced on Sunday.
Running it back with the Belgrade outfit, Rokas Giedraitis and Joel Bolomboy also penned two-year contract extensions. Also, Uros Plavsic is coming in, adding depth to the center position. A solid start to the offseason, following a triple crown for the 2023-24 season, from the AdmiralBet ABA League championship to a double in Serbia through the AdmiralBet Basketball League of Serbia and Radivoj Korac Cup triumphs.
In the 2023-24 edition of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Lazic averaged 2.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.4 assists, and 0.4 steals per contest over 22 appearances, including 16 starts. At 11-23 at the end of the Regular Season, Zvezda was six games away from clinching a berth in the Play-In Showdown.
At the regional level, the native of Loznica tallied 5.5 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 assists per contest over 24 ABA games. Wrapping up the campaign, he put in 1.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game over three contests in the Serbia Playoffs.
After four years with FMP, Lazic switched to his current team in 2011. A loyal servant of 13 years, earning him the role of team captain of the storied club, the latest contract extension leads him nearer to the conclusion of his playing days.
Competing in the 2017 EuroBasket for Serbia stands out from his international career.