Kosta Koufos to make his debut in Europe with CSKA
19.07.2019
Center Kosta Koufos (30 y.o., 213 cm) signed 2-year contract with our club…
Center Kosta Koufos (30 y.o., 213 cm) signed 2-year contract with our club.
The contract has the options for both club and the player (only in case of NBA offer) after the first year.
For the veteran center the move will provide the chance to try himself on the European club level for the first time. The American, the son of Greek immigrants, was born and grew up overseas, he graduated from the Ohio State University and played in the NBA all his pro career – impressive 11 seasons!
Koufos possesses dual citizenship, he plays for Greece from junior level. His best accomplishment came in 2009 when he won the Eurobasket bronze. Last time he played for the National Team in 2016 when he participated in the 2016 Olympic Qualification.
The center was selected by Utah with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft and played for the Jazz together with Andrey Kirilenko. After short stint with Minnesota he played 3 years for Denver. His best year was 2012-13 when he started in all 81 games averaging 8.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots. He was traded to Memphis and also spent 4 years with Sacramento, where he was the longest-tenured player on the rejuvenated team.
Kosta played in 723 NBA games averaging 5.7 points and 5.0 rebounds. He is considered to be a defensive specialist, he appears in many defensive rating lists, he rebounds well and impressively quick for a big man. On offense the center plays well in the post, doesn’t dunk too much but uses soft moves and layups around the basket, including trademark running hook shot.
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
Kosta Koufos, CSKA center:
The contract has the options for both club and the player (only in case of NBA offer) after the first year.
For the veteran center the move will provide the chance to try himself on the European club level for the first time. The American, the son of Greek immigrants, was born and grew up overseas, he graduated from the Ohio State University and played in the NBA all his pro career – impressive 11 seasons!
Koufos possesses dual citizenship, he plays for Greece from junior level. His best accomplishment came in 2009 when he won the Eurobasket bronze. Last time he played for the National Team in 2016 when he participated in the 2016 Olympic Qualification.
The center was selected by Utah with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft and played for the Jazz together with Andrey Kirilenko. After short stint with Minnesota he played 3 years for Denver. His best year was 2012-13 when he started in all 81 games averaging 8.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots. He was traded to Memphis and also spent 4 years with Sacramento, where he was the longest-tenured player on the rejuvenated team.
Kosta played in 723 NBA games averaging 5.7 points and 5.0 rebounds. He is considered to be a defensive specialist, he appears in many defensive rating lists, he rebounds well and impressively quick for a big man. On offense the center plays well in the post, doesn’t dunk too much but uses soft moves and layups around the basket, including trademark running hook shot.
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
Kosta is bringing here 11 years of NBA experience, experience at the highest level of basketball. He has said to me many times that he still has a big amount of will and energy in his tank. We are awaiting him in Moscow, look forward to seeing him on the court and to achieving many goals together at CSKA.
Kosta Koufos, CSKA center:
I definitely look forward to playing for one of the leading teams in Europe. While playing in the NBA, I was following European basketball and I know that the team had a lot of success in recent years. I am also excited to play for coach Dimitris and together with my future teammates. I am excited to have a chance to improve. I am sure that it is going to be a good experience.
