Latvian national team leader chooses unexpected team after parting with Šaras

Latvian national team player Arturs Žagars, 26, has made a surprising move to Chinese basketball, signing with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls. This decision comes despite having opportunities to play in the EuroLeague and EuroCup, which he declined in favor of an Asian adventure.

Žagars' career has seen him play for Fenerbahçe, where he was part of the team that won the EuroLeague in 2025. However, injuries significantly limited his playing time. Over two seasons with Fenerbahçe, he appeared in only 27 EuroLeague games and 32 Turkish League games. His statistics in the EuroLeague last season were modest, averaging 3.4 points and 1.6 assists in five appearances.

Last season, Žagars was loaned to Vilnius "Wolves" in the Lithuanian league. He suffered a severe injury early in the season and only returned in the spring. Prior to that, he played for Kėdainiai "Nevėžis" during the 2022-2023 season. In the Turkish league, his averages over 17 games were 7.3 points, 2.4 assists, and an efficiency rating of 6.4.

Žagars joined Fenerbahçe in 2023 under a long-term contract following a strong performance at the World Cup. Despite his team's success, including two Turkish League and two Turkish Cup titles, his personal role was often constrained by physical setbacks.