The Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion will have its captain back in uniform to defend the trophy after CSKA Moscow announced on Tuesday that it has picked up a contract option on veteran forward Victor Khryapa for next season.
Khryapa (2.03 meters, 33 years old) will therefore play his 12th season overall, and 10th in a row, with the Red Army team. Khryapa was the hero of last month’s Turkish Airlines Euroleague Championship Game as his tip-in with under 2 seconds left in the fourth quarter sent the game to overtime, allowing CSKA to eventually lift the trophy for the first time since 2008. Khryapa’s second trophy came at his 10th Final Four, a new record, after he returned from hand injuries that had limited him to 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in just 10 Euroleague games last season.
During 12 seasons with CSKA Moscow, Khryapa has averaged 6.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 192 Euroleague games. He ranks 13th all-time in the competition in rebounds (932), 20th in asssists (490) and 11th in steals (210). In addition to his Euroleague trophies in 2008 and 2016, he was a member of the All-Euroleague First Team in 2009-10 and was voted by head coaches as the Best Defender Trophy winner the same year. He appeared on the All-Euroleague Second Team in 2013 and 2014.
“The previous season showed that our collaboration remains fruitful and successful.” Khryapa said. “I will be happy to play one more year for my native club, to please the fans and all basketball lovers, and I would like to congratulate everyone with that.”
