Milwaukee Bucks’ forward Chris Douglas-Roberts signs with an Italian basketball club: NBA Update
Milwaukee Bucks star Chris Douglas-Roberts has decided to play in Italy during the National Basketball Association (NBA) lockout. An Italian Serie A team Virtus Bologna signed a one year contract with Chris Douglas-Roberts on Saturday.
The report was later confirmed officially.
“Despite the meetings to avoid the lockout are going on, Chris Douglas-Roberts decided to leave NBA and land in Italy where he will play for Virtus Bologna. The two parts reached an agreement in principle and the small forward
has just to sign the one-year contract without NBA out with the Italian team.”
Douglas-Roberts did not speak in the media regarding his deal with a professional Italian basketball team. He is considered one of the most active users Twitter, but even there, he did not leave any clear comments about his potential
move to Italy.
Although, his last comments suggested little about playing overseas, but still there were no clearance in it.
He posted, “No longer local my thoughts are global, that's why I seem distant, son expand your vision.”
According to some sources, Douglas-Roberts’ has not opted for the NBA opt-out clause which is a requirement of world governing body FIBA only for the players under NBA contract. Although, Douglas-Roberts could have opted for this
clause but as he is an unrestricted free agent in NBA, he preferred playing a whole year with his new Italian team. The opt-out clause allows the league players to return in the NBA as soon as the lockout ends.
Douglas-Roberts has relatively little experience in the league. He has been playing professional basketball for almost three years after making his debut in 2008, when he was drafted 40th overall by the New Jersey Nets
in the second round of NBA draft.
Before arriving in the biggest basketball league in the world, Douglas-Roberts had a tremendous armature career with his school and college teams. He played at Cass Technical High School where he averaged almost 28 points, 10 rebounds
and six assists per game. His impressive performances continued in the University of Memphis, where he finished his freshmen season on a high note. After playing total of 34 games, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
He announced his availability for the 2008 NBA Draft and was selected by the New Jersey Nets. He played for two years with the Nets and was then traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2010.
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