Siena announced David Andersen for 3 seasons

A great addition for Siena.


Mens Sana Basket announces that they have reached an agreement with David Andersen, who signed a contract that links him to the green-and-white club for the next three seasons. The Australian center with a Danish passport was born in Carlton, Australia on June 23, 1980 and is 212 cm tall.

Recruited at a young age by the Australian Institute of Sports, he’s part of the Under 16, Under 18 and Under 20 regional teams for the state of Victoria in the mid 90’s.

His debut in Australia’s NBL (Australia’s highest league) comes in the 1998/1999 championship with the Wollongong Hawks and good performances earn David Andersen interest from NBA scouts as well as from some European clubs.

In the summer of 1999, he signs with Virtus Bologna. During his four years there, rich in prestigious wins (Euroleague, national title and Coppa Italia in 2001, the latter repeated in 2002), Andersen receives a call from the Atlanta Hawks, who add him to the 2002 draft at number 37. However, he doesn’t go to the NBA and remains with Virtus Bologna for another season. The following summer, Andersen gets signed by Mens Sana Basket, with whom he wins the 2003/2004 national title and plays Euroleague’s Final Four in Tel Aviv. Such an extraordinary end to the season makes him quite appetizing to the European market, and he switches to CSKA Moscow the summer of 2004. His adventure in Russia lasts four seasons, during which he affirms himself as one of the old continent’s best centers and contributes to his team’s Euroleague wins the 2005/06 and 2007/08 seasons, as well as to several other national titles. The summer of 2008, he’s signed by Barcelona, where he plays only one season before beginning the following season in Houston, where he remains one year. He then heads to Toronto for a few months at the start of 2010/11, then moves to the New Orleans Hornets in November, his least team before returning to Siena.

source : menssanabasket.it


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Olympiacos interested in David Andersen

They were interested last season too..


According to the Greek sports newspaper Protathlitis, Dusan Ivkovic wants David Andersen(2.11-PF/C) to play for him once again. The 2 of them worked together in CSKA Moscow and Andersen is almost at the end of his contract in the NBA after he's been traded around and ended up with the New Orlean Hornets.

Andersen's contract makes him 2.5 million dollars, which is money that Olympiacos could easily afford for that kind of player. Andersen has a Danish passport too so that makes him even more appealing for European teams and in Olympiacos they're looking for another worthy player for their front-line. Andersen has averaged 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 28 games in the Hornets and it seems that he won't get another option in his contract with them. This will open up the doors of the free agent market for him and the most lucrative contracts will come from the other side of the Atlantic.

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Barcelona announced Joe Ingles for 2 seasons

Now it's official.


Barcelona announced via their official website the signing of Australian forward Joe Ingles(2.03-SG/SF/PF). Ingles is effectively leaving CB Granada in a very difficult position as he is the best player of the team but Barcelona have paid 450,000 euros for his transfer. On the other hand Granada are close to the relegation zone in the ACB at the moment and the future doesn't look any brighter.

Ingles will be replacing the injured Gianluca Basile and his British passport makes him a valuable commodity. So far he has averaged 13.3 points 4.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 7 games in the ACB for Granada. He is the second Australian to join Barcelona after David Andersen(2.11-PF/C) who is now playing in the NBA.

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Barcelona to sign Joe Ingles?

Another forward for Barcelona.


Joe Ingles(2.03-SG/SF/PF) will be the player to replace the injured Gianluca Basile according to tubasket.com. Joe Ingles is currently a player of Granada in the ACB and according to the article the transfer fee was agreed at 450,000 euros. Ingles holds a British passport so that allows him to play as a European player.

Hence Ingles will be joining Barcelona beating the other 2 candidates that were Simas Jasaitis(2.02-SF) and Bojan Bogdanovic(1.98-SG/SF). Ingles is a very versatile player that can cover many positions in the perimeter and he is also a member of the Australian National Team. So far he has averaged 13.3 points 4.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 7 games in the ACB for Granada.

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Panathinaikos signed Aleks Maric for 2 seasons

One of the most dominant big men in European basketball last season switched Euroleague teams on Friday when Panathinaikos announced the arrival of All-Euroleague center Aleks Maric, who inked a two-year deal with the Greek powerhouse.
 Maric
(211, 25) arrives from Partizan, which he led to its biggest season in recent history, averaging 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds in 18 Euroleague games as the team reached Final Four for the first time since 1998. They also won the Adriatic League, Serbian League and Serbian Cup titles together. Maric was voted to the All-Euroleague first team and was chosen December MVP in just his first season in the competition. He also earned weekly MVP awards for regular season weeks 7 and 8. Unknown to most fans before the season, Maric made a splash by recording a 49 index rating - tying the best single-game performance in the entire 2009-10 season - with his brilliant 34-point, 16-rebound performance against Efes Pilsen in regular season Week 7.


source : euroleague.net


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Olympiakos to announce Spanoulis and Nielsen?

It was about time..


According redplanet.gr, that is affiliated to Olympiakos, the announcements of Vassilis Spanoulis and Matt Nielsen shouldn't be very far. The situation still remains in favor of Olympiakos, given the fact that they have submitted the highest offer to Spanoulis. It's rumored to be in the region of 2.5 million euros but high bonuses included.

As for Matt Nielsen, he should be so lucky that he can sign a contract with Olympiakos near the end of his career. The 32-year old veteran is a smart player that can cover 2 positions and his skill and experienced are valued by Dusan Ivkovic. Chances are he will be announced soon as he is more than happy to join the Greek team.

However.. even Lebron James decided what team to join before Vassilis Spanoulis, so don't be surprised if this takes longer.

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Nielsen and Cook candidates for Olympiakos?

2 former players of the ACB are being considered.


According to gazzetta.gr, Matt Nielsen(2.08-PF/C) is a candidate for Olympiakos. The Greek portal says that according to their exclusive information the Australian forward/center could be the first transfer for Olympiakos. The article says that negotiations are under way and it is possible that the deal could be finalised soon. Nielsen helped Valencia to conquer the Eurocup last season and he was also crowned MVP of the Final Four. 

Nielsen has also played for Lietuvos Rytas in Lithuania and Paok in Greece. Last season he averaged 8.8 points 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 36 games in the ACB and also 9.6 points 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 17 games in the Eurocup.

According to another source, Omar Cook(1.86-PG) is the first alternative for Olympiakos in case the deal with Spanoulis goes sour. Cook shares the same agent with Spanoulis and an initial discussion has been made although no offer has been made. Cook recently parted ways with Malaga. He averaged 9.8 points 1.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 16 games playing for Malaga in the Euroleague. Cook holds a Montenegrin passport that allows him to play as an EU player.


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Rumors about Andersen and Olympiakos

Could Andersen return to Europe?


According to Greek portal sport.gr, Olympiakos are interested in signing Australian forward/center David Andersen(2.12-PF/C), currently of the Houston Rockets. The article quotes publications of the Serbian press although nothing in particular and it says that the Houston Rockets might not be interested in keeping Andersen after a mediocre season, especially now that they're running out of space in their salary cap.He has one more season in his contract with Houston.

Andersen has played under Ivkovic in the past, during his days in CSKA Moscow. He has also played for Virtus Bologna in Italy and Barcelona in Spain. Andersen holds a Danish passport that makes him a very valuable commodity for any European team. The departures of Vujcic and Schortsanitis leave some gaps in the front-line of Olympiakos so Andersen could be a good choice for them, provided he is free from Houston. He averaged 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 63 games last season in the NBA.

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Steve Leven to play in Greece

This one was tipped off by greekbball.blogspot.com.



Australian-born Steve Leven showed just why he is such a valuable asset to Scottish basketball with a vintage display in a 88-68 defeat to favourites Denmark in their opening clash of the Euro C Championship in Malta.
Leven, whose father hailed from Edinburgh, intends signing a new pro contract with a Greek club next season but not before the man who represented Australian Universities has performed mightily for his new country.

He scored 23 points off three from four shots from three-point range, six from 13 from two point range and eight from nine from the line and nearly brought the house down with a spectacular dunk which toppled the portable basket. Ross Campbell added 12.

Laurie Costello (Edinburgh Kings) said: "We have to play better as a team."

source : sport.scotsman.com


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Pekovic out, Maric in?

Out with Montenegrin, in with the Australian?


Nikola Pekovic(2.11-C) made it clear that he wants to move to the NBA and to become a part of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Pekovic spoke to vesti-online.com on Friday and said that he is leaving Panathinaikos to join Minnesota and that he couldn't resist the offer etc.

The funny thing is that all of the Greek sports websites discovered this today and that started a chain reaction that spread the news like wildfire. But it's only 3 days old. Could be worse I guess..

On another issue, Nikola Pekovic's transition to the magic world of the NBA might bring Aleks Maric(2.11-C) closer to Panathinaikos according to the latest rumors. This can be accomplished relatively easily for Panathinaikos. Pekovic's contract would amount to 1.8 million euros and according to the old tax system in Greece it would cost Panathinaikos roughly 2.2 million euros as they would also pay the taxes to the Greek State.

Now if Pekovic moves to the NBA, Panathinaikos would get one way or the other 1 million dollars because of the clause in the contract. This translates loosely to 800,000 euros and that is the biggest portion of the 1 million euros buy-out that Partizan would want for Maric. If Maric were to get a 1 million euros contract, according to new tax system in Greece it would cost Panathinaikos 1.8 million euros in total.

So in other words it's not a far fetched scenario. More on this in the days to follow..

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