CSKA Moscow extends Krstic
One of the best big men in the 2011-12 Turkish Airlines Euroleague is set to stay put, as CSKA Moscow announced a new agreement with center Nenad Krstic, who extended his contract until the end of the 2013-14 season. CSKA keeps an option to keep Krstic for one more year, through 2014-15. Krstic (2.12 meters, 28 years old) was chosen to the All-Euroleague first team last season, averaging 14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22 games. He named the 2011-12 Euroleague bwin MVP for November and earned weekly bwin MVP honors twice – in regular season Game 9 and in Top 16 Game 3. Krstic was second in accumulated performance index ranking (405) and points (312) and third in rebounds (121) and fouls drawn (104), leading the 2011-12 Euroleague in two-pointers made (178) with a 62.9% shooting percentage, in which was his first Euroleague season in seven years. Krstic helped CSKA to win the Russian League and the VTB League titles, as well as making it to the Euroleague final. He grew up with Partizan Belgrade and helped the club win three straight Yugoslavian/Serbian League titles between 2001 and 2004, plus the 2002 Yugoslav Cup. Krstic also played for several NBA teams such as Boston, Oklahoma City and New Jersey, as well as Triumph Lyubertsy in Russia. The veteran center has also been a regular with the Serbian national team with whom he has a silver medal from EuroBasket 2009. He also represented Serbia at the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2010 FIBA World Championships.
“I am happy to stay in the best club in Europe, to try to take CSKA back to the Euroleague Final Four and help the team to win domestic competitions. I had no doubt about staying. I realized that my system of values turned dramatically towards my family, the Serbian national team,” Krstic said. “CSKA’s offseason moves and my new contract answered my demands. I realized that I would like to play at least three seasons in our red and blue uniform. I know that the team has a new coach and I hope we will find a common language soon.”