By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Partizan NIS and Rodions Kurucs have agreed to part ways, his agent Arturs Kalnitis announced via a post on Twitter Thursday also noting his client’s intention to participate in the 2022 NBA Las Vegas Summer League. Partizan confirmed parting ways with the Latvian small forward later Thursday.
Kurucs, 24, joined the team based in Belgrade last July. However, his last appearance for the team coached by legendary head coach Zeljko Obradovic dates back to early March. At the bottom stretch of the 2021-22 season, he was excused by Partizan and trained individually in Latvia.
Prior to being sidelined, he struggled to gain a significant role. Averaging 3.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 0.9 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game painted the picture of his efforts in the 7DAYS EuroCup. He appeared in nine games, including five starts, logging 12:45 per contest.
In addition, Kurucs made his way to 14 games in the AdmiralBet ABA League producing 4.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.3 blocks per contest.
Back in 2018, a promising youngster coming out of Barca B and fresh off debuting in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague as a member of the senior squad of FC Barcelona, he was selected with the 40th overall pick of the NBA draft by the Brooklyn Nets. He went on to appear in 139 NBA games, including 118 with the Nets. Brief stints at the Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks concluded his 2020-21 campaign and initial stay in the NBA. Before landing in Barcelona, he made early waves playing for VEF Riga in his home country.
After one season back in Europe, Kurucs will attempt to find a path back to the NBA with the first step in the approaching Summer League scheduled to stretch from 7 to 17 July.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net