Varese Basketball is happy to announce that it has reached an agreement with Christian Eyenga, who will wear a Red & White jersey until the end of the 2016/2017 season. Born in Kinshasa on June 22, 1989, Eyenga is an athletic forward with strong defensive qualities who is able to attack the basket effectively and with determination. He has played professionally with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Piazza Monte Grappa club is extremely happy to welcome Christian back after 21 games in 2014/2015.

Paolo Moretti, Coach, Openjobmetis Varese Basketball: «We close the roster with a welcome return. Christian is a player who, in addition to adding physicality and athleticism, brings motivation and spirit to those who want to write more into the pages of the club’s history. Among the many technical qualities that he has, I admire his flexibility in defence, something that will give me so much to think about in terms of strategy. In attack, however, he may well play as power forward or small forward, a feature that will allow me to play small or large quintets depending on the need».

Christian Eyenga, Forward, Openjobmetis Varese Basketball: «I am extremely excited to be able to come back and play for Varese Basketball. I can’t wait to start and to see all the people again when I was with the Red & White’s. I am very happy that this dream has come true».

Player Profile

Date of birth: June 22, 1989

Place of Birth: Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Height: 204 cm

Weight: 100 kg

Role: Forward

Career

When Christian Eyenga was young, he was already demonstrated his credentials that he would become a professional player and was convened to the national youth team of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2006, he took part in NBA Basketball Without Borders, and then chose to go to play in Spain, Badalona in 2007. He then played for a year in the ‘cantera’ of the Spanish team wearing a CB Prat jersey and, at the end of the season, signed up for the Cleveland Cavaliers who chose him as number 30 for the Draft. The NBA, however, had to wait because Christian decided to play another year in the Spanish League (ACB) and it was only in summer that he played professionally. For much of his first year, he played with Erie BayHawks and was affiliated with the Cavs team, which took part in the development league. In January 2011, he made his official debut in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers playing 44 games (18 as a regular) and totalling 6.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. During the NBA lockout, he played for Badalona and then Eyenga returned to the Cavaliers before appearing in the D-League. The Los Angeles Lakers season then ended. In 2013, he was chosen for the D-League Draft by the Texas Legends and this was interrupted by a brief period spent in China with Shanxi Zhongyu. After time spent with Zielona Gora, the team with which he also participated in the Euroleague (9.2 points and 4.7 rebounds on average, the statistics were the highest placed on the scoresheet), Eyenga came to Varese in November 2014. Wearing a Red & White jersey, firstly under Coach Pozzecco and then Attilio Caja, he totaled 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds in 30.3 minutes in play for an average of 12.3. The excellent season spent at the foot of Sacro Monte caught the attention of Sassari, the new champions of Italy, with whom he played 18 games before going to Turin with Coach Vitucci at the beginning of February 2015.