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Crvena Zvezda has been actively reshaping its roster for the 2026-27 season, and their latest addition, former NBA first-round pick Patrick Baldwin Jr., signifies a strategic move to bolster their team. Baldwin, at just 23 years old, is expected to bring a valuable blend of physical presence and outside shooting prowess to the Belgrade-based club. This high-profile signing follows a series of other significant roster changes, reflecting the team's ambition to compete at the highest level in European basketball.

Basketball Star Patrick Baldwin Jr. Joins Crvena Zvezda in Major Roster Shake-Up

In a significant development for European basketball, Crvena Zvezda officially announced the signing of Patrick Baldwin Jr. on Saturday, October 2024. The talented 213-centimeter forward arrives in Belgrade after a four-year tenure in the NBA, during which he played for prominent franchises such as the Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Sacramento Kings. The Serbian club's announcement highlighted Baldwin's unique combination of height and refined perimeter skills, emphasizing his ability to excel in multiple positions and seamlessly integrate into the tactical framework envisioned by their newly appointed head coach, Ibon Navarro.

Baldwin's professional journey began with high expectations, as he was the 28th overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft, recognized for his potential as an intriguing shooting forward. Throughout his 102 NBA appearances, he averaged 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds over 9.1 minutes per game, demonstrating efficient shooting percentages of 40.5% from the field and 37.6% from beyond the arc. His NBA career commenced with the Golden State Warriors in the 2022-23 season, where he participated in 31 games and achieved an impressive 38.1% three-point shooting accuracy. The subsequent season saw him with the Washington Wizards, where he started seven games out of 38 appearances, recording career highs of 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 13.0 minutes. The 2024-25 season included stints with Washington and the Clippers, before concluding his 2025-26 campaign by dividing his time among the Clippers, 76ers, and Kings. During this final season, he averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds across nine games, maintaining a 42.9% success rate from three-point range, and finished the year with Sacramento, contributing 3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in six appearances. Before his NBA career, Baldwin also earned a gold medal representing the United States at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, underscoring his international experience and pedigree.

This acquisition marks another strategic move for Crvena Zvezda in an eventful offseason. The team recently welcomed Ibon Navarro as their new head coach and has also added significant talents like Chris Jones, David Kramer, and Jonathan Motley. These new faces will aim to fill the void left by key departures, including Codi Miller-McIntyre, Isaiah Canaan, Donatas Motiejunas, Jasiel Rivero, Uros Plavsic, and former head coach Sasa Obradovic. With these changes, Crvena Zvezda is poised to build upon its performance in the previous EuroLeague season, where they concluded with a 21-17 record, securing 10th place and a play-in spot.

The integration of Patrick Baldwin Jr. into Crvena Zvezda's roster could be a transformative step for the team. His blend of youth, NBA experience, and versatile skill set offers a fresh dynamic to their offensive and defensive schemes. For EuroLeague fans, this signing signals Crvena Zvezda's serious intent to contend, adding another layer of excitement to the upcoming season. It also highlights a growing trend of promising American talent opting to further their careers in competitive European leagues, showcasing the global appeal and increasing competitiveness of basketball outside the NBA.