OLYMPIACOS announces signing of Linas Kleiza
Linas Kleiza, Olympiacos boundOne of the rising stars of international basketball is bringing his game to the Euroleague with the announcement on Tuesday that Olympiacos Piraeus signed forward Linas Kleiza to a two-year contract. A product of basketball schools on two continents, Kleiza (203, 24) grew up in Lithuania before leaving to study in the United States at age 16. He became a regular for the Lithuanian national team over the past three years, taking part in the Olympics, world and European championships. He is currently on the preliminary squad for EuroBasket 2009. Kleiza helped Lithuania win a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2007 and averaged 11.1 points and 4.6 rebounds at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, as the Lithuanians reached the medal round. He arrives from Denver in the NBA, where he played 301 regular season games and 26 playoff games over the past four seasons. Last year Kleiza averaged 9.9 points and 4 rebounds in the regular season. A native of Kaunas, Lithuania, Kleiza moved to the United States during high school and later played two years of college basketball at the University of Missouri, recording 16.1 points and 7.6 rebounds in his sophomore season.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Vassilis Skountis, Athens
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