Panathinaikos sign Toronto Raptors forward Juancho Hernangomez

By Can Erozden

Greek basketball club Panathinaikos signed on Thursday Toronto Raptors power forward Juancho Hernangomez on a two-year contract.

Hernangomez, a Spain regular, played in NBA since being selected in the 2016 draft.

He has played for many NBA franchises such as the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, and the Raptors.

Last season he averaged 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 42 appearances for Toronto.

Hernangomez has never played in Europe's top-tier Turkish Airlines EuroLeague before, and will make his competition debut with his new club Panathinaikos.

He helped Spain win gold medals at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and EuroBasket 2022.

In July, Juancho's elder brother Willy, 29, joined Barcelona after three years with NBA's New Orleans Pelicans.

This summer Panathinaikos appointed Turkish head coach Ergin Ataman, who won the EuroLeague twice with Istanbul's Anadolu Efes.

The Greens then signed Greek playmaker guard Kostas Sloukas from archrivals Olympiacos, Greek center Kostas Antetokounmpo, EuroCup MVP (Most Valuable Player) Jerian Grant, Argentine guard Luca Vildoza, French center Mathias Lessort, and their former forward Ioannis Papapetrou to build a powerful squad for local and European campaigns.

One of the big clubs in European basketball, Panathinaikos are six-time EuroLeague champions, the last in 2011.