Wade Baldwin and Jayson Granger aiming high with Baskonia Vitoria / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Baskonia Credit Baskonia

Two important off-season additions arrived in Vitoria and they are full of ambitions. Both players shared their first thoughts with the Spanish media.

Wade Baldwin

Team:TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-GasteizPosition:SGAge:25Height:193 cmWeight:92 kgBirth place:New Jersey, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Wade Baldwin has been one of the most sought-after players in Europe this summer. Last season with FC Bayern Munich he averaged 15.3 points, 4 assists, and 2.7 rebounds in the EuroLeague per 39 games. Baldwin and Bayern were one win away from reaching the Final Four.

"I think this adventure is going to be hard and entertaining, so I am excited to compete in the ACB League, in the EuroLeague and bring titles, win as many games as we can," Baldwin said. "I have only heard great things about Baskonia and their tradition. When I was visiting player here over the last two seasons (with Olympiacos Piraeus and Bayern Munich), it has always been a tough team to play against."

Regarding the new campaign, Baldwin showed his desire to "be a player who can help the team, contributing athleticism and lots of energy on the court.”

Another signing of Baskonia guards’ line, Jayson Granger, was excited about his return to Vitoria. He was a member of the Spanish squad in 2017-20. Granger is coming back to Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz after a one-year stint in Germany, ALBA Berlin. With the latter, the 31-year-old won the Basketball Bundesliga and was named finals MVP. Last season in the EuroLeague he averaged 8.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists (28 contests).

"The feeling was like coming home. I really wanted to go back to Vitoria, to Fernando Buesa Arena, to make up for injuries during the three years I was there. I want to show that I can play at the highest level and put this club as high as possible," said Granger upon his return.

About the team’s roster, he added: “It is very exciting. There are quite a lot of new faces coming, players that I have faced this season, or in previous years.”

"Simone Fontecchio is a great friend, roommate, and teammate. I think he is going to surprise many, as he has done some incredible things in Tokyo Olympic Games. Matt Costello and Wade Baldwin have a lot of potential which they have already shown in their former teams. Hopefully, this year we can build good chemistry and reach success.”

Asked which version of himself he wants to see on his return, Granger was very clear: "I want the Granger to be happy, to be the one, who has been able to play like this in his entire career, until, unfortunately, the issue of injuries happened. In Vitoria, I was not lucky enough to avoid injuries, and that is why I come with the mentality of giving the fans many joys."

Current roster

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

Position Player Status PG Jayson Granger (story) Signed until 2022 + 1 PG Arturs Kurucs Signed until 2023 SG Sander Raieste Signed until 2024 SG Wade Baldwin IV (story) Signed until 2022 SG Vanja Marinkovic (story) Signed until 2024 SG Miguel Gonzalez Signeduntil 2024 SF Rokas Giedraitis Signeduntil 2023 SF Tadas Sedekerskis (story) Signed until 2024 SF Simone Fontecchio (story) Signed until 2024 SF Pavel Savkov Signeduntil 2024 PF Alec Peters Contract option +1 PF Ondrej Hanzlik Signeduntil 2024 PF/C Matt Costello (story) Signed until 2024 C Youssoupha Fall Signeduntil 2022 Coach Dusko Ivanovic Expired contract Illimane Diop (released, story), Pierria Henry (not coming back), Achile Pollonara (not coming back), Quino Colom, Zoran Dragic, Franz Massenat Rumored to leave Rokas Giedraitis Interested

See all the EuroLeague transfer market newshere.

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