Nikola Kalinic signs a 1-year deal with Valencia Basket

18/07/2020

Valencia Basket has reached an agreement to incorporate the Serbian international forward Nikola Kalinic (2.02m, Subotica (Serbia), 11/08/1991, 28 years old) for the upcoming season. The player comes from Fenerbahce Beko, where he has played the last five seasons, being champion of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague in 2017.

 

Growing in Serbia

Kalinic developed his first professional years in different Serbian clubs. The team from his hometown started at Spartak Subotica, where he started as a professional in 2009. In 2010-11 he already played 23 games. His next two seasons, between 2011 and 2013, he would go to Vojvodina Srbijagas.

 

His progression was rewarded with the call of Sasha Djordjevic to debut with the Serbian NT, being part of the team that played the Eurobasket in 2013.

 

In the 2013 season, he jumped to Radnicki, with which he once again stood out, both in the Adriatic league and in the Eurocup, averaging more than 10 points per game in 16 games drawing the attention of Red Star, who takes over his services to the following season.

 

Impact in Serbia and arrival at Red Star

After his good season, his final explosion will come with the World Cup in Spain in 2014, helping to qualify Serbia for the Final, which he will lose against USA.

 

In the 2014-15 season, Kalinic completed a good season with Red Star, debuting in the top European club competition, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, with averages of almost 9.2 points per game.

 

Consolidation in Fenerbahce

His great projection will make Zeljko Obradovic for Fenerbahce set his eyes on him, landing in Istanbul in the summer of 2015. In the Turkish team, Kalinic completed a 5-year stage in which he achieved the title of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague 2017 title. Kalinic was crucial scoring 17 points in the final against Olympiacos.

 

In his last stage, Kalinic will consolidate himself into the elite of European forwards, alternating the positions of small forward and power forward, and reaching a sporting maturity that he can show off today.

 

Sports career

Spartak Subotica (2009-10)

Novi Sad (2010-11)

Vojvodina Srbijagas (2011-13)

Radnicki (2013-14)

Red Star (2014-15)

Fenerbahce (2015-20)

Valencia Basket (2020-)


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