Ethan Thompson Signs Two-Year Deal with Partizan

Partizan completes its perimeter overhaul. The Serbian club announced on Sunday the signing of Ethan Thompson on a two-year contract, just three days after the Indiana Pacers released him from his two-way deal.

That release was precisely what cleared the path for the 27-year-old shooting guard's European move, whose future had been the subject of speculation since the end of the season in the United States.

The best year of his career

Thompson arrives at a favorable moment. In the 2025-26 season, he had his most extensive stint in the NBA, appearing in 32 games with thirteen starts under Rick Carlisle, averaging 7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in just over twenty minutes.

Where he truly dominated was in the G League, split between the Sioux Falls Skyforce and the Noblesville Boom, with a spectacular 26.8 points per game. That contrast explains the European interest: a scorer who dominates in the development league but couldn't find his role in the NBA.

At 1.93 meters, he brings offensive versatility and physical perimeter defense, the profile that Joan Peñarroya was looking for to complete his rotation.

A roster built with aggressive spending

The signing is part of a major overhaul of the Belgrade squad, which faces the upcoming season competing on three fronts: EuroLeague, ABA League, and Serbian domestic competitions.

The group that Peñarroya already had confirmed consists of Kyle Allman Jr., Mitar Bosnjakovic, Kevarrius Hayes, Tonye Jekiri, Carlik Jones, Arijan Lakic, Joffrey Lauvergne, Vanja Marinkovic, Uros Mijailovic, Mario Nakic, Alessandro Pajola, Lamar Stevens, Nikola Tanaskovic, Luca Vildoza, and Derek Willis.

From Oregon State to Belgrade

Developed at Oregon State, where he finished his college career with 15.7 points per game in his senior year, Thompson comes from a basketball family: his father Stephen was a professional and serves as an assistant coach at the university itself, and his brother Stevie also went through the program. He is also an international player for Puerto Rico.