Pallacanestro Reggiana officially signs former NBA Kenneth Faried

Pallacanestro Reggiana announces it has reached an agreement with American player Kenneth Faried for the remainder of the season.

The 203 cm center, born in 1989, was selected 22nd overall in the 2011 NBA Draft and played eight seasons in the NBA with Denver, Brooklyn, and Houston. He accumulated nearly 500 appearances across the regular season and playoffs and represented Team USA at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, where the U.S. won the gold medal.

After stints in China, Puerto Rico, and a brief spell with CSKA Moscow, Faried played last season in the G-League with the Mexico City Capitanes, averaging 12.7 points and 11.3 rebounds. Most recently, he competed in the Mexican league with Soles de Mexicali, reaching the semifinals and posting averages of 10.6 points and 8.6 rebounds over 27 games.

Coach Dimitris Priftis introduced Faried with these words:

"Kenneth is a player with an impressive NBA career behind him. He’s a big man from whom we expect physicality, efficiency in the paint, personality, and experience. He’s a competitive athlete who will bring energy and intensity. Of course, he isn’t very familiar with European basketball, having only had a short stint with CSKA Moscow a few years ago, but I believe his skills, character, and experience will help him adapt quickly to our team."

Here are Kenneth Faried’s first words:

"I’m really excited to continue my career in Italy and to have the opportunity to showcase all my skills with the Reggio Emilia jersey. This team has a great culture, and its fans, from what I’ve heard, bring incredible energy to the games. With these premises, I want to bring all my determination and toughness to the court so that the Reggio Emilia community can immediately welcome me as one of their own."

Kenneth Faried will wear jersey number 35, the same number he has worn throughout his career, and is expected to arrive in the city in the coming days, pending the completion of visa formalities.