Renaldo Balkman joins Petron Blaze

Renaldo Balkman (201 cm, South Carolina ‘ 06) has joined the Petron Blaze Boosters (Philippines-PBA) to play the remainder of the season. Balkman played three seasons of collegiate ball at South Carolina, ending in 2006. He was drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1st round (20th pick overall) in the 2006 NBA Draft. Balkman played for the Knicks in 2006-07 and 2007-08, then was traded to the Denver Nuggets in July, 2008, where he played for two season.

In Feb., 2011 Balkman was part of a 3-team trade, traded by the Denver Nuggets with Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter and Shelden Williams to the New York Knicks; the Denver Nuggets traded a 2015 2nd round draft pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves; the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Kosta Koufos to the Denver Nuggets; the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Corey Brewer to the New York Knicks; the New York Knicks traded Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, cash, a 2012 2nd round draft pick (Quincy Miller), a 2013 2nd round draft pick and a 2014 1st round draft pick to the Denver Nuggets; and the New York Knicks traded Eddy Curry, Anthony Randolph and cash to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Over Balkman’s NBA career he played in 221 games, averaged 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

He also played for the Puerto Rican National Team in 2010-12, helping win the Gold in the 2011 Panamerican Games in Mexico averaging 17.0 points (3rd best), 7.8 rebounds (3rd), 18 steals (3rd), and 1.0 blocks (5th) per game over five games.