Usman Garuba Rumors

Real Madrid is once again moving early in the transfer market with an eye on next season. In addition to the advanced talks with Maledon since December and having Kramer already secured as Ibaka’s replacement—who is out of contract—another move the club is working on involves finding a new player. With Tavares and Bruno Fernando holding down the center position, they’re looking for a big man who can stretch the floor with shooting and play alongside a traditional center or pair up with Garuba, who seems more comfortable playing as a center rather than a power forward. According to what we’ve learned, Real Madrid has Dario Šarić’s name on the table.

Encestando

Penning a three-year contract, Usman Garuba returned to Real Madrid in late August, three years after departing the storied club to display his talents in the NBA. Sitting down with Eurohoops shortly before starting the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign, he opened up about his NBA experience and reuniting with Los Blancos. “It was an easy decision,” he described his comeback, “I feel valued over here. Obviously, the NBA was my main goal. Due to certain things, I was not able to find the best situation and show what I was able to do. I do not want to use it as an excuse, but things happen for a reason and I am back home.”

EuroHoops.net

Garuba, 22, was the 23rd pick of the 2021 NBA draft, after being named EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player. Over the next three years, he was featured in 106 NBA games between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. “I think my time was great. I learned a lot of things. I can not complain about it. Playing time, all that stuff was not what I expected,” he confirmed to Eurohoops, “Obviously, you go there with a lot of excitement. There are a lot of dark stories. I do not want to say it is a bad league or anything, but things are a little bit different over there.” “I left as a kid and grew up. I had a lot of ups and downs and learned a lot of lessons over there. I got traded, I got cut, I saw a lot of things, the dark side of the business. I think that made me mature a lot as a player,” he expanded. “I think I would be more selfish,” added Garuba, “That is what I learned over there, you got to be more selfish.”

EuroHoops.net

The general manager of the Emirati club gave an interview to Mozzart Sport, in which he talked about the arrival of the long Latvian and their budget. These are his statements. Kamenjasevic on Davis Bertans: “If we look at the players who came back to Europe from the NBA in the summer, so Vezenkov, Fournier, Osman and Garuba, only Bertans had a real role in the United States. His arrival is a miracle because we did not bring to Europe a player who sat on the bench in the NBA, but a real player. He played in the NBA for a long time, financially he is secure. We still have the budget of less than 4 million that we talked about, Bertans did not come here for the money, but for the project and the vision of this club”.

Sportando

Confirming a report by Eurohoops in late May, he joined Los Blancos. The 22-year-old big inked a three-year contract, Madrid announced on Tuesday. Per the press release: “Real Madrid C. F. has agreed to a deal with Usman Garuba that will see the player join the club for the next three seasons, until 30 June 2027. Usman Garuba comes back for his second stint with Real Madrid after playing three seasons in the NBA, two of them with the Houston Rockets (2021-2023) and the last one with the Golden State Warriors (2023-2024). The power forward joined our youth academy in 2013, playing in every age group and becoming Spanish champion as an Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18, and winning two Minicopas and the European Junior Cup in 2019.

EuroHoops.net

Nunez, 20, was cut but remains with the senior national team of his country along with Joel Parra to assist for the remainder of the training camp. Final roster for Spain * Alex Abrines (FC Barcelona) * Santi Aldama (Memphis Grizzlies) * Dario Brizuela (FC Barcelona) * Lorenzo Brown (Panathinaikos Aktor) * Alberto Diaz (Unicaja) * Rudy Fernandez (Real Madrid) * Usman Garuba (Golden State Warriors) * Juancho Hernangomez (Panathinaikos Aktor) * Willy Hernangomez (FC Barcelona) * Sergio Llull (Real Madrid) * Xabi Lopez-Arostegui (Valencia) * Jaime Pradilla (Valencia) In a tuneup game on July 23, Spain will face Puerto Rico in Madrid’s WiZink Center.

EuroHoops.net

However, Garuba decided to take to X to deny those rumors as false. "I don’t usually write here but this time I have to do it," he wrote. "I understand every journalist/insider and the work they do, but they got to have respect for the players and teams instead of providing false news without knowing anything that's going on. My future is not decided yet, so stop spreading fake news. We keep working. Thanks," Garuba concluded.'

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Per Eurohoops source, however, Real Madrid and the player have been in contact for a long time and only a solid offer from the NBA can change things and postpone his return to Europe.

EuroHoops.net

Real Madrid has convinced Usman Garuba to leave the NBA and return to Europe, per Eurohoops sources, joining the EuroLeague finalists with a long-term contract. The 22-year-old Garuba, a product of the junior teams of Real Madrid got drafted in 2021 and left the Spanish powerhouse for the NBA.

EuroHoops.net

While there’s still interest for him from the NBA, Garuba can be a key for Madrid’s future in the front line, practically replacing French big man Vincent Poirier.

EuroHoops.net

Usman Garuba: 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

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Shams Charania: The Golden State Warriors are planning to convert two-way center Usman Garuba to a standard NBA deal for the rest of the season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Garuba will fill Warriors' final roster spot and is playoff-eligible. pic.twitter.com/DY6q3tdWMc

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Although Usman Garuba has only played eight minutes in three games this season with the Warriors, Steve Kerr praised the player's ability to create when he has the ball. "He's working a lot on his body, trying to improve and get in the best shape possible. I think he has a future with us," the Warriors head coach said before his team's game against the Raptors in Toronto last Friday.

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Garuba's contract will pay him $559,782 and will make him eligible to appear in up to 50 regular-season contests. "I really like 'Usi'. He is a talented young player," Kerr continued. "He's big and strong. He has a big wingspan so even though he's not that tall, defensively he can match up with bigger, taller people," Kerr explained. Kerr later added that Garuba needs time to find his role and his identity. "I think that at the moment 'Usi' has to play as a '5' unless he has a big player and shooter at his side. He could play as a '4' if he has a five at his side. But he has to refine his game and find his niche, whether with our team or with another", Kerr concluded.

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