Basketball

Roko Ukić leaves Milwaukee Bucks, NBA for Turkey

Croatia’s Roko-Leni Ukić has been let out of his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 25-year-old Croatian was the third-string point guard for the Bucks; he played very little this season, just 7:30 minutes a game and participating in just 13 of  32 games thus far.

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Ukić, who was in his second year in the NBA and was averaging 3.1 points off the bench, rarely got our of his warmups; stuck behind rookie phenom Brandon Jennings and veteran Luke Ridnour.

The 6-5 Ukić had requested from the team that he be released from his current contract, so he could sign for Turkish club Fenerbahçe Ülker.

The Bucks complied on Monday; granting his release. Ukić will clear the NBA waiver wires this afternoon – allowing him to negotiate and sign with any team, NBA or not.

From FIBA: Ukić will now try to help the Istanbul giants reach the Top 16 of the Euroleague.

Ukic was a leading player with Lottomatica Roma under Jasmin Repesa when he decided to join the Toronto Raptors, the team that held his draft rights, before the 2008-09 campaign.

He played in 72 games, but only averaged 12.4 minutes.

After being sent to Milwaukee over the summer in a trade with Carlos Delfino for the Bucks’ Amir Johnson, Ukic hoped for more playing time but most of the backcourt minutes have been gobbled up by rookie Jennings.

Ironically, Jennings signed for Roma after Ukic’s departure but played 17 minutes per game last season in Italy’s top flight.

At Milwaukee, Jennings is averaging 34.6 per contest and is a strong candidate to be named Rookie of the Year.

Ukić will likely play for Croatia at the 2010 FIBA World Championships of Basketball where Croatia will compete in Group B against Brazil, Iran, Slovenia, Tunisia and the United States. The tournament will be held in Turkey.

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