After completing a six-year stint in the NBA, the hoops player Chimezie Metu, now functioning as an unrestricted agent, has chosen to advance his career internationally by officially finalizing a one-year deal with Barcelona, according to an official announcement by the Spanish club.
Initially picked as the 49th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Metu embarked on his pro journey with the Spurs before making the switch to the Kings in 2020. He established himself as a crucial bench player in Sacramento, starting in 20 out of 60 games during the 2021/22 season while posting averages of 8.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per matchup.
After his two-year spell in San Antonio and a three-year run in Sacramento, Metu inked a one-year pact at the league minimum with the Suns last season. However, the 27-year-old player had limited playing time with the squad, averaging 12.1 minutes per game across 37 contests before being moved to Memphis as part of a three-team trade deal at the deadline, which also saw Royce O’Neale and David Roddy heading to Phoenix.
Following his swift release by Memphis, Metu signed a brief 10-day contract with the Pistons in March, subsequently finalizing a two-year deal with the team once the initial agreement expired. The former standout from USC featured in 14 matchups for Detroit towards the conclusion of the season, posting averages of 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 29.4 minutes per game. However, the Pistons opted not to activate the team option for the minimum salary on him for the 2024/25 season, thus enabling him to enter unrestricted free agency.
Metu will now become a part of the roster of a Barcelona squad that tallied a 23-11 record in the Spanish League (ACB) and a 22-12 performance in EuroLeague games during the 2023/24 campaign. Barcelona faced defeat in the ACB postseason against eventual champions Real Madrid and missed out on a spot in the EuroLeague Final Four after a loss to Olympiacos.
Image Source: Chimezie Metu @ Instagram
