The seven-year NBA veteran will get his first taste of EuroLeague basketball.
Milan moves for Rodney McGruder
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EA7 Emporio Armani Milan has confirmed the signing of Rodney McGruder on a deal until the end of the 2023-24 season. McGruder (1.93 meters, 32 years old) spent seven years playing in the NBA and will now feature in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the first time. He last played for the Detroit Pistons, averaging 5.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in the 2022-23 NBA season.
Another weapon for Milan
McGruder follows in the footsteps of another ex-NBA player, Shabazz Napier, by joining Milan in a mid-season transfer. Both McGruder and Napier will be expected to contribute a lot for Ettore Messina’s squad in the second half of the regular season, particularly with Billy Baron and Maodo Lo having been dealing with their respective injuries.
In their absence, Italian duo Diego Flaccadori and Giordano Bortolani have taken advantage of their increased game time, while Devon Hall continues to contribute on a night in, night out basis. It is hoped that by bringing in McGruder and Napier, Milan will give its chances a boost of making the EuroLeague Playoffs.
NBA experience
With McGruder having played for three clubs across his seven-season NBA career, having suited up for the Miami Heat (2016-19), the Los Angeles Clippers (2019-20) and the Detroit Pistons (2020-23), he will lean on his 317 regular-season games and nine playoff appearances as he embarks upon a new chapter in the EuroLeague.
Across his time in the NBA, McGruder’s best season was his final campaign with Miami, as he started in 45 of his 66 games and posted 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists, all of which are career highs.
Despite this being McGruder’s first time playing in the EuroLeague, it is his second time plying his trade on the old continent as he represented Hungarian side Atomeromu SE in the 2013-14 campaign, his first as a professional, after leaving Kansas State University.