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David Pick reported Thursday morning that Shane Larkin is leaving the NBA to play for Anadolu Efes S.K., a Euroleague team based in Istanbul, Turkey.
Celtics free agent guard Shane Larkin confirms to me that he is leaving the NBA to sign a $1.8M, one-year offer sheet with Anadolu Efes.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) July 26, 2018
Shane Larkin averaged 4.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 38% shooting, 36% from behind the 3-point line and 86% from the free-throw line. Larkin stepped up on multiple occasions as guards fell like flies out of the lineup. Whenever Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart weren’t available, Larkin performed admirably to fill the gaps.
Larkin’s season-high came in a November regular season win against the Charlotte Hornets in which he dropped 16 points in just over 17 minutes as a part of this season’s infamous 16-game winning streak.
With the Boston Celtics signing Brad Wanamaker and Walt Lemon Jr. in combination with Jabari Bird’s status as a restricted free agent this summer, there didn’t appear to be any room left for Shane Larkin on next season’s roster. Larkin joins former NBA players James Anderson and Derrick Brown on the Anadolu Efes roster. Larkin will undoubtedly bring his experience and poise to his new club when their season begins.