Nenad Krstic followed a group of other NBA Europeans by returning to the Old Continent for this season. But the Serbian center now has signed a three-year contract with the NBA’s worst team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Knee Surgery Ends Promising Season
Five seasons after becoming the 24th pick of the 2002 Draft by the New Jersey Nets, Krstic was having an outstanding 2006-07 season, averaging 16.4 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 53 percent from the field. But in December 2006 he tore an anterior cruciate ligament and missed the rest of the campaign.
Struggles In Comeback
The 7-foot, 213-pound Krstic, who played the first two seasons after getting draft for Serbian club Partizan Belgrade, rehabbed and returned to the Nets for the 2007-08 season. But he was a shadow of his former self, averaging just 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds. And Krstic started just 45 games for New Jersey last season.
Nets Do Not Re-Sign Center
New Jersey decided against re-signing Krstic for this season, assuming he would not fit into the club’s plans. The Nets, however, did retain his NBA rights as a restricted free agent.
Krstic Moves To Russia
Instead of trying to find another NBA team which would doubt his ability, Krstic elected to play overseas, hooking up with Russian Superleague club Triumph Lyubertsy. The center averaged 10.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in the Russian league - considered one of the best in Europe.
Mild Success In Russia
Krstic did not, however, have loads of success with Triumph, which struggled to a sub-.500 record in the Russian Superleague. The club was also bounced from the second qualifying round of the Eurocup and ended up playing in the Eurocup Challenge competition. And Krstic led the team in points (13.3) and rebounds (7.3).
Thunder Impressed
Krstic’s play in Russia apparently was strong enough to impress at least one NBA team to give him another chance. Oklahoma City negotiated a buyout from Triumph Lyubertsy and signed Krstic to an offer sheet - reportedly a three year deal for 16 million dollars – which was not matched by the New Jersey Nets.
Krstic Joins Young Thunder
The 25-year-old Krstic now joins a talented young mix in Oklahoma City, which includes Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook. And Krstic will offer the Thunder some low post depth, sharing playing time in the blocks with Nick Collison, Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith and Robert Swift.
Oklahoma City Expect Krstic To Help
Oklahoma City management expects Krstic will help the team as he has averaged 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in four NBA seasons. "It's always good to be able to add a player of Nenad’s quality. We feel like he’s going to be able to help us and make a positive contribution to what we’re doing in the short term and long term,” Thunder GM Sam Presti told NBA.com on December 30.
