Base Jaka Lakovic is Winterthur FC Barcelona’s second signing for the 2006-07 season. The Slovenian has joined the club from Greek outfit Panathinaikos on a three-year contract.
Having already signed Mario Kasun, Winterthur FC Barcelona have secured the rights to one of the most wanted playmakers in European basketball, Jaka Lakovic. Like the Croat centre, Lakovic, who turns 28 on Sunday, has signed for three years.
The Slovene arrives in Barcelona this evening for medical tests tomorrow, and will then be presented to the press at 12.00 midday along with his new team-mate Mario Kasun.
Career
After starting out with Slovan in Ljubljana (Slovenia), where he made his first team debut aged 18 in the 96-97 season, he then moved to another of the biggest clubs in his country, Novo Mesto in 2000. His speed, vision and amazing stats of 63.9 % in two pointers and 49.3 % in threes attracted the interest of one of the strongest clubs in Europe.
That team was Panathinaikos, who he joined in 2002 and played for over four seasons, collecting four Greek leagues and three Greek Cups. With 18 points and 2 assists he was named MVP of the Play Off for the Greek title against Olympiakos. In his last year in Greece, he averaged 16.2 points, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals per game in Euroleague matches.
Star of the Slovenian team
He has played international basketball at all levels, and won silver with Slovenia at the European Under 22 championship, and also appeared with the full side at the 2003 and 2005 European Championships. At Sweden 2003, Slovenia finished tenth. In the four games he played, he totalled 42 points with 37.5% in two pointers and 47.3 in threes.
He played an even bigger role for his national side at Serbia 2005. He played six games, scoring 77 points, 25 rebounds and 17 assists. Slovenia reached the quarter finals before going out to Germany and eventually finishing sixth.