Bruno Fernando has officially left Partizan and joined Anadolu Efes, signing a two-year contract with the Turkish EuroLeague powerhouse.
After spells with Real Madrid and Partizan, Bruno Fernando will remain in the EuroLeague following his move to Anadolu Efes, as the club officially announced his arrival. The 27-year-old big man becomes one of the latest additions to Pablo Laso’s new-look roster.
Fernando joined Partizan during the first half of last season after Real Madrid decided not to continue with him. Initially sharing the frontcourt role with Tyrique Jones, he became the team’s starting center after Jones left for Olympiacos.
In the EuroLeague, Fernando averaged 7.8 points and 4.3 rebounds over 37 games, playing slightly more than 17 minutes per contest.
Before moving to European basketball, the Angolan center spent several seasons in the NBA, where he played for the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors.
Bruno Fernando’s time with Partizan
Although Bruno Fernando showed flashes of being a dominant presence in the paint, his overall impact during his time with Partizan was somewhat inconsistent.
The Angolan center was capable of taking over games with his physicality and athleticism, but he often struggled to maintain focus and found himself in foul trouble, limiting his influence on the court. Fernando also frequently showed his emotions during games, leading to tense moments with officials and occasional technical fouls.
Despite those inconsistencies, Fernando proved to be a valuable weapon against Partizan’s biggest rival, Crvena Zvezda. The big man consistently caused problems for Zvezda’s defense and was one of Partizan’s most effective players in several editions of the “Eternal Derby”.
Anadolu Efes begins major roster overhaul
After a disappointing season, Anadolu Efes decided that a major roster rebuild was necessary. The Turkish powerhouse parted ways with Vincent Poirier, Nick Weiler-Babb, Rolands Smits, Saben Lee, Cole Swider, Sehmus Hazer and club legend Shane Larkin, opening the door for a new era in Istanbul.
As part of the latest EuroLeague transactions, Anadolu Efes has already started reshaping its roster under head coach Pablo Laso. The club added Dario Saric, who returns from the NBA, Mathew Strazel from Monaco, Santi Yusta from Zaragoza, and now Bruno Fernando as its latest addition.
