Pallacanestro Olimpia EA7 – Emporio Armani Milanoagreed on terms for a one-year contract with Linas Kleiza, coming from Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul.

WHO’S KLEIZA – Linas Kleiza was born on Januray 3rd, 1985 in Kaunas, Lithuania. He’s a power forward of 107 kg, who moved to the United States at 16, following the path of his artists parents. He attended the Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland then accepted a scholarship from Missouri University where he stayed two years, scoring 16.1 points per game in his sophomore season. He declared for the 2005 NBA draft and was selected in the first round, with the number 27, by Portland. His rights were immediately traded to Denver. He played four seasons with the Nuggets, the best one being the third when he had 11.1 points per game and also a career-high 56.8% in field goal shooting. At the end of the fourth NBA season he came back to Europe, signed by Olympiacos Piraeus. He had 17.1 points per game in the Euroleague leading the league in scoring. He was also named All-Euroleague first-team. At the end of the season, he returned to the NBA playing three more seasons for the Toronto Raptors. In the summer of 2013 he signed for Fenerbahce Istanbul (10.1 points per game in Euroleague, 91.8% free-throw shooting) where he won the Turkish league.

NOTES – With the Lithuanian National Team he won the silver medal at the 2013 European Championships and the bronze in 2007. He also played the Olympics in Bejing 2008 and London 2012… He won the silver at the Under 18 World Championships in 2003 and the bronze at the 2004 Under 20 European Championships… He won the 2010 Greek Cup… His scoring record in the Euroleague for a single-game was set in Milano with 26… His rebounding personal best was set again last season against Laboral Kutxa Vitoria (11)… In Toronto among his teammates there was the Italian, Andrea Bargnani.

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