Marko Popovic returns to Zalgiris 0

Zalgiris Kaunas signed former player Marko Popovic, who spent two seasons with the club between 2006 and 2008. The contract is for one season with an option for 2012-13.

Popovic (1.85 meters, 29 years old) arrives from Unics Kazan, whom he led to the Eurocup title last season. Popovic was the Eurocup Finals MVP after scoring 18 points and dishing a Eurocup title game record 11 assists against Cajasol.

For the season, Popovic tallied 13.8 points and 5.8 assists per game. In the Russian League he was worth 11.6 points and 3.9 assists.

Popovic last played in the Euroleague with Zalgiris when he averaged 11.7 points as a sixth man in 2007-08.

He grew up with Zadar in his native Croatia and was the hero of his team’s 2003 Adriatic League title. He has also played for Valencia in Spain, Efes Pilsen in Turkey and Cibona in Croatia during his impressive career. Among Popovic’s list of titles are winning the Eurocup, Adriatic League, Baltic League and Croatian League crowns once each as well as the Lithuanian League twice. He has also collected cups in Turkey, Lithuanian, Croatia and Russia.

Popovic has represented the Croatian national team at the world’s most important events, including the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey.