Dominican Republic guard Jean Montero arrived in Athens on Wednesday evening to finalize his transfer to Greek basketball club Olympiacos.
The 23-year-old point guard landed at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport at around 7:30 p.m. local time after completing international match commitments with the Dominican Republic national team.
Montero is scheduled to undergo mandatory medical examinations before joining up with his new teammates for pre-season training, which has been impacted by international call-ups in recent days.
Arrival Statement and Coach Bartzokas
Speaking upon his arrival in the Greek capital, Montero thanked supporters for their welcome and expressed delight at joining the club.
He said he had expected a warm reception after previously facing Olympiacos as an opponent, noting that the passion of the club's fan base is well known throughout European basketball.
Montero highlighted Olympiacos' status as one of the top EuroLeague teams over a sustained period, pointing to the leadership of head coach Giorgos Bartzokas on the bench as a major factor in his decision to move to Piraeus.
He stated he is in Athens to compete, give 100 percent, and achieve success, describing the transfer as a fresh challenge in his career focused on daily improvement and confidence without feeling pressure.
The point guard also revealed he had spoken via social media with guard Codi Miller-McIntyre, a former opponent during his time at Spanish club Baskonia, telling him they should achieve success together, and added that he had also spoken with star forward Sasha Vezenkov.
Spanish League MVP and EuroLeague Standout
Montero was one of the most sought-after players in European basketball last season following an impressive campaign in Spain's Liga ACB.
The Dominican playmaker earned Most Valuable Player honors in the Spanish league and led his team to the EuroLeague Final Four tournament held in Athens.
Pre-Season Tournaments in Crete and Abu Dhabi
Olympiacos are preparing to intensify their pre-season campaign as squad members return from international duties.
The team is scheduled to depart for Crete on Friday to participate in a friendly tournament against EuroLeague opponents Crvena Zvezda, Armani Milano, and Fenerbahce.
Following the trip to Crete, Olympiacos will take part in another pre-season tournament in Cyprus before traveling to Abu Dhabi for the inaugural EuroLeague Super Cup.
