Veteran point guard Emmanuel Mudiay has inked a one-year contract with the Lithuanian club Zalgiris Kaunas, per an official team announcement.
The 25-year-old was selected with the No. 7 pick by the Nuggets in the 2015 draft. Across his 300 NBA games played between 2015-20, Mudiay averaged 11.0 PPG, 3.8 APG, and 2.9 RPG on .401/.323/.744 shooting. Beyond his tenure with the Nuggets, Mudiay also suited up for the Knicks and Jazz. His last NBA stint was spent with Utah during the 2019/20 season.
Mudiay received offers to play in the G League and in Europe in 2020/21, according to a recent report, but turned them down in hopes of catching on with an NBA team. The former lottery pick, who played on the Trail Blazers’ Summer League team this year, was once again angling for an NBA comeback. However, his agreement with Zalgiris Kaunas had been anticipated as a contingency plan.
Though this marks Mudiay’s first appearance with a European team, this is not his first experience in a non-NBA pro league. Back when he was an elite high school prospect, the 6’3″ Mudiay opted to bypass college, instead signing a one-year, $1.2MM deal with the Guangdong Southern Tigers in China for the 2014/15 season before entering his name into NBA draft consideration.
Mudiay still has to report to the team in Lithuania and undergo a physical examination.
Gonna miss mudy a bunch. Hopes for the best for him
I remember when Larry Brown spoke so highly of him. I thought for sure he would make it. He’s a big PG with good vision. LB is one of coaches I respect the most “Play the Right Way”.
Only 25 he still has a chance to play in NBA. I wish him the best. Keep dreaming player.
Anxious to hear terms because I didn’t think he was that washed.
He and Frank N are posed to be two of the elite PG’s in the Euro League this upcoming season
If they are, shouldn’t that tell us that the quality of the Euroleague is not really that good?
What did he do last year? Maybe I’m missing it, but I don’t see it here and his Wikipedia page doesn’t say, either. Did he opt out? Was he injured? Did he just sit out the 2020-21 season?
Sat out the season — I added a line to this story with info on that.
Thanks, Luke. Keep up the great work.
Mudiaye is terrible and has had years of weak stats. He was given every opportunity on Nugs & Nix, straight to starter. Nothing, and both teams disappointed. After he left and they quit holding the door open for him, the teams started rising.
All focus on him was for natural talent, but it takes more than that. Getting to the pros too early may satisfy some fans but is not beneficial. He should start again from scratch and maybe is. Why not soccer.
I recall him in African League games, unfettered in foreign exhibitions. He could take off so fast with long strides and make the court look small. Then he quickly got confused and would spin around helplessly.
As a Knick fan I remember wanting to draft him in 2015, he was suppose to be a big time PG but was a bust.
Celtics made Mudiay into a star a few years back! He came out firing right from the get go. Yes, here it is. Scored 24 points for Denver in the first quarter! Celts made a lot of secondary players into one-game stars. Maybe that’s why Celts have new coach this season.