All-Euroleague Batiste to anchor Fenerbahce Ulker

The new-look Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul will feature a familiar face in very unfamiliar colors after the Turkish powerhouse signed All-Euroleague big man Mike Batiste to a one-year contract. Batiste (2.04 meters, 34 years old) arrives in Istanbul after spending nine seasons anchoring the Panathinaikos frontcourt. During his time with the Greens, which was a record for a non-Greek player in that country, Batiste won three Euroleague titles and reached the Final Four on five occasions. Last season Batiste was named to the 2011-12 All-Euroleague Second Team after posting 9.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in just 21 minutes per game to help lead the team to the Final Four in his new home city, Istanbul. The year before, he helped Panathinaikos win the Euroleague and was selected to the 2010-11 All-Euroleague First Team.

Batiste has played a total of 10 Euroleague seasons – he made his debut in the 2000-01 campaign with Spirou Basket Charleroi – and compiled career averages of 12.2 points and 5.4 rebounds. He has made more two-point baskets (864) than any player in competition history and ranks high on the list of Euroleague career leaders in scoring (seventh; 2,276 points) and rebounding (fourth; 1,013). During his time in Athens, Batiste also helped Panathinaikos win eight Greek Championships and six Greek Cups. He previously played for Pallacanestro Biella in Italy and in the NBA for Memphis. Fenerbahce Ulker and Panathinaikos are scheduled to meet in Group A of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season, which means Batiste will make his return to OAKA as a visiting player in the first week of December.

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