Turkish forward Cedi Osman, after spending seven seasons in the NBA – six with the Cleveland Cavaliers and one with the San Antonio Spurs – has decided to take his talents to Europe.
Osman signed a one-year contract with the reigning EuroLeague champions, Panathinaikos. According to Eurohoops, Osman expressed that it wasn’t a difficult decision to make, signaling his excitement to join one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs.
After a solid NBA career, this move represents a return to high-level European basketball for Osman, where he’s expected to play a significant role for Panathinaikos in their title defense.
“It was a long process, but, obviously, it was an easy choice for me,” Osman said of joining the Greek club. “I have known Panathinaikos for a lot of years. I played against them as a kid. And Ergin [Ataman] was my coach since I was a kid. There were links with other teams, but it was not a really hard choice for me.”
Osman averaged 6.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on .479/.389/.673 shooting splits in 72 games with the San Antonio Spurs last season, where he played 17.6 minutes per game.
Over his NBA career, which spans 476 regular-season games (including 186 starts), Osman holds career averages of 9.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on .432/.357/.711 shooting in 22.7 minutes per game.
His versatility and experience make him a valuable addition to Panathinaikos after a steady run in the NBA.
Cedi Osman: “Easy Choice” To Sign With Panathinaikos https://t.co/WRqhhmAdby pic.twitter.com/C5uUxEu761
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) September 8, 2024
