ARG – Luis Scola is a Rocket

BUENOS AIRES (FIBA Americas Championship) – Luis Scola, one of the stars that will be part of Team Argentina at the FIBA Americas Championship 2007 in Las Vegas, has extended his stay in USA soil after becoming the eight Argentinean to ever reach what is arguably one of the best basketball league worldwide. He will be joining Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming after signing with the Houston Rocket in the NBA.

Scola agreed to a three years contract, for a still undisclosed amount of money, but first he has to buy his contract with Spain’s Tau Ceramica, which could cost him almost 3 million dollars.

He was offered an extension of five seasons by Tau Ceramica, which would have turned him in the best paid player in Europe. Nonetheless, he decided to fulfill his dream of being an NBA player.

He was selected by the San Antonio Spurs as the 56 pick of the 2002 NBA Draft, but it is possible that the amount of money needed to buy out his contract could have been prevented him from getting together with his country-fellows, Fabricio Oberto and Many Ginobili.

"Luis is currently one of the five best international players outside the NBA. He will bring experience and strength to a position which we (Rockets) needed to improve”, Rocket’s General Manager, Daryl Morey, mentioned in the team’s official webpage.

FIBA Americas