By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The next EuroLeague challenge for Alen Smailagic is Virtus Segafredo Bologna.
The Italian club announced the latest summer signing, following Zalgiris formally releasing the 24-year-old Serbian forward/center on Wednesday.
After signing a 1+1 deal with the Kaunas outfit last summer, Smailagic activated a clause on his contract and left the club via a buyout.
“I’m happy and excited to begin this journey together, especially with the Virtus fans,” the Belgrade native commented on moving to Vu Nere, “I can’t wait to embark on this new adventure with a team that has won, and I hope to help them continue to win everything they have to offer.”
In the 2024-25 edition of the EuroLeague with Zalgiris, Smailagic tallied 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, 0.4 steals, and 0.4 assists per contest over 29 appearances, including seven starts. In Lithuania’s Betsafe LKL, he added 10.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, helping his side win the domestic league championship and double up following the midseason Citadele KMT triumph.
From the capital of his home country to the United States and the G League with the Santa Cruz Warriors during the 2018-19 season, Smailagic went on to be selected with the 38th overall pick of the following NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans and subsequently traded to the Golden State Warriors. He was featured in 29 games across the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, before moving on to hometown Partizan Mozzart Bet between 2021 and 2024.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net