Barcelona lands Adam Hanga ending months of speculation

Adam Hanga, last season’s Euroleague’s reigning Best Defender Trophy winner, has left Baskonia and joined rivals Barcelona for the next three seasons, the clubs both announced.

The 28-year-old Hanga averaged 10.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals in 33 games last season, at the end of which he was chosen as EuroLeague Best Defender by the competition’s head coaches. In 75 career games over three EuroLeague seasons, Hanga has accumulated 654 points, 316 rebounds and 91 steals.

He proved a major contributor to Baskonia reaching the EuroLeague Final Four in 2016 for the first time in eight years as he was the EuroLeague’s fourth-best stealer and shot-blocker that season.

Over the last two seasons, he has accumulated the fourth-most steals (80) and the sixth-most blocks (55) in EuroLeague play while being the shortest player ranked among the top 20 in total rebounds (285).

The Hungarian international admitted that he is happy that the deal is done and when he saw Barcelona’s offer, he signed almost immediately.

“I’m very happy to play for a team like Barcelona,” Hanga said. “Ι didn’t think about it when I saw their offer. I signed it immediately,” the Hungarian swingman said in his first comments as a Barcelona player.”

Hanga started his career with Albacomp-UPC Szekesfehervar of his native Hungary and also played for Basquet Manresa of Spain and Sidigas Avellino of Italy.

Hanga rejoins Sito Alonso, who was his head coach at Baskonia last season and now sits at the head of Barcelona’s bench.