Galatasaray have re-signed playmaker and former NBA player Carlos Arroyo as the Turkish champions prepare for a swift return to the Euroleague after a season in the Eurocup.
33-year-old Arroyo has penned a new one-year deal with the club who last season clinched their first domestic crown since 1990. This adds to the domestic treble Arroyo won with Besiktas last season as he has helped Galatasaray return to Europe’s elite club basketball competition after they spent last season in the Eurocup, where they were eliminated in the Last 16.
Arroyo averaged 12.4 points and 4.1 assists in five matches in Europe’s second tier last season.
The Istanbul side themselves were last in the Euroleague in the 2011-12 season, where they inflicted CSKA Moscow’s first loss of the season at that point. They were also knocked out in the round of 16.
Veteran point guard Arroyo brings valuable experience ahead of the Turkish side’s Euroleague adventure. The former NBA traveller, who has suited up for the Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat, playing a total of 569 games will lead Galatasaray into a tricky looking Group C, where they will face-off against reigning Euroleague champions Olympiacos, as well as Montepaschi Siena, Unicaja Malaga and newcomers Stelmet Zielona Gora and Bayern Munich.
Before the Euroleague season is set to commence, Arroyo might be in line to lead Puerto Rico in this summer’s FIBA Americas championship in Venezuela. They will be based in Group A where they will face Uruguay, Canada, Jamaica and Brazil. The Puerto Ricans will travel to the Olympic Park to face Great Britain at the Copperbox Arena in August, as part of their preparations.
