By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Confirming recent reports about a deal with Real Madrid, Trey Lyles officially completed his move to the EuroLeague powerhouse on Wednesday.
Moving his talents to Europe’s premier club continental competition, the 29-year-old Canadian forward/center penned a one-year contract with Los Blancos. At the team coached by Sergio Scariolo, his new teammates are Alberto Abalde, Izan Almansa, Facundo Campazzo, Gabriel Deck, Andres Feliz, Bruno Fernando, Usman Garuba, Mario Hezonja, David Kramer, Sergio Llull, Theo Maledon, Chuma Okeke, Gabriele Procida, and Walter Tavares.
His career so far features 662 appearances in the NBA. Coming out of Kentucky, he was selected with the 12th overall pick of the 2015 draft by the Utah Jazz. After two years with his first team, he was traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2017. He went on to sign with the San Antonio Spurs in 2019 and with the Detroit Pistons in 2021, before being traded to the Sacramento Kings in 2022 and spending the last three years with the team based in the capital of California. The 2024-25 journey with the Kings amounted to 69 games played, including five starts. Lyles averaged 6.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.3 blocks per contest.
Despite moving outside the league based in North America for the first time in his career, he brings experience with international rules to Madrid. The Saskatoon native has represented Canada at junior and senior levels. Last summer, he played in the Paris Olympic Games 2024, logging four appearances with 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. He previously participated in the Victoria’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2021. During his high school career, he also made his way to the FIBA U19 World Championship 2013 and captured a bronze medal in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship 2012.