Al Riyadi welcomes back Kikanovic

Elmedin Kikanovic

Defending champion Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (LBL) signed experienced 36-year-old Bosnian ex-international 211cm center Elmedin Kikanovic. It is his comeback to Beirut as he has played here before. He most recently played at Al Arabi in the Qatari QBL league. Kikanovic played in three different competitions that year, and he was exposed to basketball on different levels. In 20 QBL games, he was the league's fifth-best scorer with an impressive 22.1ppg and recorded 11.7rpg (#2 in the league) and 2.9apg last season. He helped them win the league title and the cup. Kikanovic had a very successful season and was awarded Asia-Basket.com All-Qatar QBL Player of the Year, Import Player of the Year, and Center of the Year. He also played 3 games in the West Asia Super League, averaging a remarkable 23.0ppg, 9.3rpg, and 2.0apg.
Kikanovic was also a member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina international program for some years. He played for Bosnia and Herzegovina Senior National Team between 2006 and 2018 and previously for the Under 18 National Team in 2006.
Kikanovic also represented Bosnia at the FIBA World Cup 2019 Qualifiers six years ago. During this event he scored an average of 11.7 ppg and had 4.5 rpg.
He is a very experienced player. Thanks to pro basketball, he experienced life in eleven different countries playing on three different continents. Kikanovic is familiar with European, Asian, and African leagues. He has played previously in France (Monaco and Sluc Nancy), Germany (ALBA Berlin), Italy, Kuwait (Kuwait), Russia (Enisey), Serbia (Crvena zvezda), Turkey (Ormanspor), Bosnia (OKK Sloboda Tuzla), United Arab Emirates (Al Sharjah), and Libya (Al Nasr).
Among many awards he received, Kikanovic won the Asia-Basket.com All-Lebanese League Player of the Year award in 2024. He is close to retirement age as a player, and this may be one of his last seasons in his extensive career, which he may end at Al Riyadi.


Tags : ELMEDIN KIKANOVIC, SPORTING AL RIYADI BEIRUT, LEBANESE BASKETBALL, LEBANESE TRANSACTIONS, WASL