Luigi Datome, an NBA players since 2013, signed for Fenerbahçe Ülker yesterday, the Turkish side announced. The 27-year-old Italian small forward, formerly of the Boston Celtics, signed a contract for two years with a one-year option with the team that won last year's domestic league and secured a spot in the Euroleague final four after a stunning winning streak under Zeljko Obradovic, the Serbian coaching legend who took the reins in 2013.
Datome's transfer marks the third major signing for Fenerbahçe who signed Olympiacos point guard Kostas Sloukas and Bobby Dixon, the U.S. point guard from Turkey's Pınar Karşıyaka.
Datome started his professional career in 2003 at the Italian side Montepaschi Siena. After a domestic spell until 2013, during which he was named Most Valuable Player while playing for Virtus Roma with averages of 16.7 points and 5.7 rebounds, he signed for the Detroit Pistons in the summer of 2013 on a two-year contract. He made 34 appearances in his rookie season with the Pistons with an average 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds. Earlier this year, he was assigned to the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA Development League before he was traded to the Boston Celtics in February. In his 21 matches with the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics, he had an average of 5.0 points and 1.4 rebounds. He appeared in 58 NBA games.
Datome has been a member of the Italian national team since 2007 and averaged 11.1 points in the 2012-13 season during the European Championships with the national team. He holds titles of Eurobasket.com All-Italian Serie A Player of the Year and All-Italian Serie A Domestic Player of the Year.
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