The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have signed guard Roko Ukic (pronounced RO-ko OO-keech) to a three-year contract. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed. Ukic was a second-round selection (41st overall) by the Raptors in the 2005 NBA Draft.
Ukic, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, played in Italy last season with Lottomatica Virtus Roma. He averaged career highs of 11.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 19 Euroleague contests. He shot .545 from the field and .824 from the charity stripe. He had a high of 23 points versus Partizan Igokea and eight assists on two occasions (at Real Madrid and at Panathinaikos).
In 34 regular season Italian League outings, Ukic again posted career bests with averages of 11.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals. He shot .599 from the floor and .748 at the foul line. He totaled a high of 27 points at Tisettanta Cantu. Toronto played against Ukic and Lottomatica during the Raptors’ NBA Europe Live ‘07 visit to Rome. Ukic had 10 points and nine assists in 38 minutes as the Raptors won 93-87.
Ukic, 22, began his professional career in 2000-01 with KK Split (Croatia). He played four seasons with KK Split before moving to Spain and Tau Ceramica Vitoria for the 2005-06 season. He spent the 2006-07 campaign with FC Barcelona. He helped his teams to the 2006 and 2007 Spanish National Championship (King’s Cup).
Ukic is a member of the Croatian National Team and is competing in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens, July 14-20
