Artūrs Žagars Heads to China

Artūrs Žagars is changing scenery. According to Andrea Calzoni, the Latvian point guard has signed with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese CBA after a season with limited playing time at Fenerbahce.

The move is clear in its intent. Žagars needs to play, handle the ball, and regain continuity. In Turkey, he failed to find his place within a roster loaded with talent, and his role became quite limited, especially in EuroLeague.

Last season he appeared in just 3 EuroLeague games with Fenerbahce, averaging 5 points and 2 assists in just under 14 minutes. In the Turkish league he had more presence: 18 games, with 6.9 points, 2.3 assists, and 0.6 rebounds in 13 minutes per game.

China can give him exactly what he didn't have in Istanbul: minutes, responsibility, and a more favorable context to produce again. Žagars remains a point guard with talent, creativity in his passing, and the ability to change pace, but he needs a stable season to feel important again.

His name exploded onto the scene at the 2023 World Cup with Latvia, but since then injuries and lack of continuity have slowed his growth. The move to Zhejiang sounds less like a retreat from the European spotlight and more like an attempt to reset his career.

For the Golden Bulls, it's an attractive signing: a young point guard with international experience, court vision, and the ability to create. For Žagars, an opportunity to play with command again.