Nigerian-American power forward and former NBA and Barcelona star Chimezie Metu is set for a new challenge in Turkey as he finalizes an agreement with Galatasaray Istanbul.
Despite attracting interest from several EuroLeague clubs, the forward is expected to strengthen one of the favourites to win the Basketball Champions League title.
Metu is coming off a successful stint with Gran Canaria, whom he joined midway through the 2025/26 season.
The veteran frontcourt player made an impressive return after rupturing his Achilles tendon in March 2025, averaging 14.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 26 minutes across 12 ACB League appearances. He shot 50 per cent from the field and 36.5 per cent from three-point range.
Metu reached double figures in 11 of his 12 games, highlighted by an 18-point performance against Baskonia, a 17-point, eight-rebound outing against Unicaja, and 15 points against Valencia Basket.
Before the injury, Metu enjoyed a solid EuroLeague debut season with Barcelona in 2024/25, averaging 11.0 points on 62.4 per cent shooting from two-point range and 36.4 per cent from beyond the arc, alongside 4.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 0.6 steals, 0.6 blocks and an average Performance Index Rating (PIR) of 11.8 in 20 minutes per game.
He recorded a season-high 21 points against Anadolu Efes and posted a PIR of 21 in another standout display against Crvena Zvezda, finishing with 16 points and six rebounds.
From Round 22 to Round 31, Metu was one of Barcelona’s most consistent performers, registering double-digit points and a double-digit PIR in every game during that stretch.
Over that period, he averaged 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 65 per cent from two-point range and 37 per cent from three in just over 21 minutes per game.
The former NBA big man played 260 regular-season games across six seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons, averaging 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Source: Punch News
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