Andrejs Gražulis joins Italian team 'Cantu'
Latvian basketball player Andrejs Gražulis, who missed the entire previous season due to injury, has signed with Italian top-division club 'Cantu'.
Return after injury
Andrejs Gražulis will return to the basketball court after a year-long break. The Latvian national team power forward missed the entire 2025/2026 season due to a foot injury sustained in last year's European Championship game against Serbia. The injury also prevented him from playing in Turkey, but at the end of July it was announced that he would join Italian club 'Cantu'.
Club history and achievements
Founded in 1936, the club was relegated from the Italian top division in the 2020/2021 season but returned last season. With a 9-19 record, the team finished second-to-last, yet managed to retain its place in the elite league. 'Cantu' has won the Italian championship three times (most recently in 1981), the Italian Supercup twice (last in 2012), and two EuroLeague titles, though all these achievements came between 1973 and 1983.
Player and management comments
"I am honored to receive this opportunity," Gražulis said on the club's website. "I can't wait to start this adventure and prove my worth. I am confident we can have a great season together." Team general manager Simone Džofre added: "Andrejs is a player with extensive international experience. His skills and experience will be very valuable for the roster we are building."
Career overview
Throughout his career, Gražulis has played for teams including 'Ventspils', 'VEF Rīga', 'Parma', 'Tortona', 'Trieste', 'Trentino', Bologna's 'Virtus', and Badalona's 'Joventut'. He has represented Latvia in two European Championships and the 2023 World Cup.
