Dusan Ristic leaves Chalon for Kawasaki: one of Betclic ELITE’s best big men heads to Japan
Dusan Ristic, the 7’0″ Serbian center, will no longer wear Elan Chalon’s colors next season. After a solid season in Betclic ELITE, the former University of Arizona player has signed with Kawasaki Brave Thunders of the Japanese B1 League. This marks a lucrative new chapter in the career of this global basketball journeyman.
✒️SIGNED⚡#ドゥシャン・リスティッチ 選手との2025-26シーズンの選手契約(新規)が決定しました 🤝
セルビア代表のFIBAバスケットボールワールドカップ2023準優勝メンバーで、バスケットIQが高く、213cmの長身とシュート力を兼ね備えたビッグマンです。https://t.co/1RL199O8Sm pic.twitter.com/pog8EHCahf
— 川崎ブレイブサンダース⚡️川崎からバスケの未来を⚡️ (@brave_thunders) June 9, 2025
A Notable Season in Chalon
After joining Elan Chalon in summer 2024, Dusan Ristic quickly established himself as one of the most effective centers in the league. In 34 regular season games, he averaged 12.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists for a 15.3 efficiency rating (8th best). His consistent performances helped the newly-promoted Burgundy club qualify for the playoffs.
His long-range shooting, rare for a player his size, left a strong impression: in their announcement, Kawasaki highlighted that their new recruit shot 50% from 3-point range in 2024-2025, making him a genuine offensive threat at all levels of the court.
Dusan Ristic Heads to Japan
The Serbian will discover a new league with Kawasaki Brave Thunders, where he has signed for the 2025-2026 season. He will join American Roy Igwe as the team’s foreign players. This will be Ristic’s first experience in Japan’s B1 League, following stints in several European countries (Spain, Italy, Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan) and his college career in the United States.
In Kawasaki’s official announcement, Ristic stated he was « honored and excited to join a club with such a long and rich tradition, » hoping this season would be « synonymous with success and happiness for the entire Thunders family. »
An Already Well-Established Career
Having played for numerous European teams including Galatasaray, Tenerife, and Burgos, Dusan Ristic is also a regular member of the Serbian national team. He participated in EuroBasket 2022 and the 2023 World Cup, where Serbia won the silver medal. Since 2021, he has been an integral part of the national team’s core group.
This signing confirms the Japanese B.League’s trend of attracting more European talent through attractive contracts and a continuously improving level of play.
Commentaires