This will be the club and player's third stint together
Crvena Zvezda reunites with Nikola Kalinic
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2 Mins read
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade has boosted its roster with experience, leadership and toughness by reuniting with former EuroLeague champion Nikola Kalinic, who has signed a three-year deal at the club.
Kalinic (2.02 meters, 32 years old) returns to Belgrade after spending the last two seasons with FC Barcelona. Last year, he averaged 7.3 points, shooting 40.6% from three-point range, and collected 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists without missing a game in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague action, starting in 38 of his 39 appearances.
For Kalinic, this will be his third stint with Crvena Zvezda, the club where he made his EuroLeague debut in the 2014-15 season and also played in the 2021-22 campaign, when he was Zvezda's leader averaging 12.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in EuroLeague action. In each of those seasons with the club, Kalinic helped Zvezda win the triple crown – ABA League, Serbian League and Serbian Cup titles.
In between two previous stints with Zvezda, Kalinic spent five seasons with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and the 2020-21 campaign with Valencia Basket. With the Turkish powerhouse, Kalinic won the 2017 EuroLeague title and reached the 2016, 2018 and 2019 Final Fours as well. He also made it to the 2022 Final Four with Barcelona.
A veteran of 309 EuroLeague games, including 205 in a starting role, Kalinic has averaged 24 minutes per game in his career, posting 8.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists. In Zvezda's uniform, he has made 56 appearances in the competition, posting 11.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Kalinic started his professional basketball career with Serbian side Subotica and also played at Novi Sad and Radnicki. During his career, Kalinic has also won silver medals at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014 and the 2016 Olympics with the Serbian national team.