Last season, American forward Nigel Hayes-Davis, who shone with Fenerbahçe Beko, drew the attention of the entire European basketball community. It is now clear where his next career step will lead: according to ESPN, the 29-year-old has signed a fully guaranteed one-year contract with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Official confirmation of the deal is expected within hours, but the signature has already been placed, making the trans-Atlantic move a done deal for the player.
One-Year Contract
The agreement is for a single season and gives Hayes-Davis the chance to prove himself once again on the world’s most prestigious basketball stage. The Suns view the energetic swingman as a valuable boost to their forward rotation thanks to the versatile defense and reliable outside shooting he displayed in the EuroLeague.
Named MVP
The Ohio native moved to Istanbul from Barcelona in the summer of 2022. Over three seasons in the yellow-and-navy uniform he helped Fenerbahçe reclaim the EuroLeague title and earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the Final Four. His perimeter scoring and selfless defense were pivotal to the Turkish giant’s championship run.
$750,000
According to insider Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, the Istanbul club will receive compensation of $750 000 for the early transfer of its leader to the NBA. These funds will provide an additional resource to strengthen the roster ahead of the new EuroLeague campaign.
Hayes-Davis’s return to the NBA offers him the chance to test himself once more against the world’s best players, while for Phoenix it is an opportunity to add an experienced European champion capable of confidently filling both the small and power forward spots. Should the official announcement confirm the deal’s details, Suns fans will see the newcomer at training camp this fall, and Turkish supporters can take pride in another alumnus who has secured a contract in the world’s strongest league.
