Landen Lucas signs to play pro ball in Europe

By Matt Tait Sep 4, 2018

Kansas forward Landen Lucas (33) dunks during the second half, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

After a year in Tokyo, playing professional basketball in the city in which he spent part of his childhood growing up, former Kansas forward Landen Lucas is moving on to Europe.

According to a Tweet from Michael Lelchitski, the Vice President and Executive Director for Men’s Basketball at SIG sports agency, Lucas this week signed a contract with BC Kalev, of Estonia.

“Congratulations to @LandenLucas on signing with BC Kalev in the VTB League,” Lelchitski wrote. “Great opportunity at the top level for the big fella’s first European stop! Big year ahead!”

Lucas, who left Kansas following the 2016-17 season after a five-year KU career, averaged 6.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game during his one season with Toyota Alvark Tokyo in Japan.

An injury early in the season cost him and Lucas played in just 18 games during his one season in Japan. His team, however, won the league title.

[Back in Lawrence over the summer][1] to help The Landen Lucas Foundation join fundraising forces with Brian Hanni’s Rock Chalk Roundball Classic exhibition game, the 6-foot-10 Lucas talked about wanting to find the right fit for his playing future.

[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2018/jun/29/after-injury-shortened-rookie-year-landen-lucas-se/

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.