One of Sweden’s all-time basketball players has been in the headlines in his home country in recent years. Jonas Jerebko’s latest player contract ended suddenly.
208-centimeter Jonas Jerebko made Swedish basketball history when he played for the dynasty team Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals in the summer of 2019.
Since then, the 37-year-old player’s career has had less flattering events. Most recently, he left Puerto Rico’s premier league club Santeros de Aguada after just two games. Jerebko joined the team less than a month ago.
In 2022, Jerebko moved to the Russian CSKA shortly after Russia started a war of aggression against Ukraine. He praised the club and its history profusely, but the Swedish national team shelved the star player from the team as a result of the transfer.
The move received huge publicity as most players boycotted Russian teams after the war started.
Colorful years
Playing as a winger or center, Jerebko was the first Swedish player to be drafted into the NBA. The Detroit Pistons drafted him in 2009 in the second round.
Jerebko, who has been the biggest star of his national team for years, has not played in a Swedish shirt for more than two years, but he still shared his opinion about the national team’s performance in an interview with the Swedish newspaper Markbladet.
– I have nothing to say about the national team. Their actions are at the level of a sandbox, Jerebko shuddered.
Sports director of the national team Lars Johansson said Swedish newspaper for Aftonbladetthat you would like to discuss things with Jerebko in person.
– I don’t know what he meant by that, Johansson commented on Jerebko’s claim.
The career after the NBA finals has been in stages. He played until 2021, Susijengi legend Even Petteri Kopon at one time representing, the Russian club in Khimki. After the TsSKA gig, Jerebko was without a club until May 2022 before his move to Puerto Rico.
In an interview with Markbladet, he revealed that he hadn’t touched basketball in practically a year before his transfer. Jerebko had maintained his fitness by boxing and strength training.
In his second match for the Puerto Rican team, Jerebko injured his hamstring. The investigations revealed that the injury will keep Jerebko off the field for the time being, and the club then announced that Jerebko would be leaving.
– Jerebko was a true gentleman and professional. I am saddened by his departure, co-owner of the club Joel Lopez commented in the club’s press release.
Jerebko has not yet commented on his departure from the club or the possible continuation of his career.