Official: Galatasaray MCT Technic signs Chimezie Metu

10/07/202620:30

The Nigerian big man joins the Turkish club after gaining valuable experience in both the NBA and EuroLeague with Barcelona and Gran Canaria.

Galatasaray MCT Technic has officially announced the signing of Chimezie Metu, adding the Nigerian international to its roster ahead of the new season.

Metu brings significant experience from both the NBA and European basketball. During his NBA career, he played for the San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and Detroit Pistons, while in Europe he suited up for Barcelona and Gran Canaria.

Standing 208 cm (6-foot-10), Metu can play both power forward and center. He is known for his athleticism, physicality, rebounding ability, and impact around the rim, qualities that are expected to strengthen Galatasaray’s frontcourt.

About Chimezie Metu

Born on March 22, 1997, in Los Angeles, Metu spent part of his childhood in Nigeria before returning to the United States, where he attended Lawndale High School and later played three seasons at the University of Southern California (USC).

College career

Metu steadily improved throughout his time at USC, becoming one of the team’s leaders. In his final season (2017-18), he averaged 15.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game, earning First Team All-Pac-12 honors before declaring for the NBA Draft.

NBA career

Selected with the 49th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs, Metu went on to appear in more than 250 NBA games. His best campaign came with the Sacramento Kings in 2021-22, when he averaged 8.9 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 55.5% from the field. He also averaged 10.5 points and 6 rebounds in 14 games with the Detroit Pistons during the 2023-24 season.

European career

Metu moved to Europe in 2024, joining Barcelona, where he quickly established himself as a productive EuroLeague big man. He averaged 13.2 points in the Spanish League and 11 points with 4.8 rebounds in the EuroLeague while shooting 62.4% from two-point range. During the second half of the 2025-26 season, he joined Gran Canaria, averaging 14.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in Liga Endesa.

Nigeria national team

Metu has been a regular member of the Nigerian national team, representing his country at the FIBA World Cup and the Olympic Games. He averaged 9 points and 5.6 rebounds at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, 9.7 points and 6.7 rebounds at the Tokyo Olympics, and 16.8 points with 9.8 rebounds during the African qualifiers for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.