Big Mike Takes Another Career Step

Longhorns basketball legend Mike Daum, who turned 28 on Oct. 30, is still moving up.

Daum has joined the high-level Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketball Super League and the EuroLeague after the Bertram Derthona team in Italy released him from his contract so he could try to further his career.

This follows the Dauminator's fine performance in the 2023 NBA Summer League with the Sacramento Kings.

"It was not easy to make this decision," Bertram Derthona president Marco Picchi said on the team website Nov. 29 about releasing Daum from his contract. "Mike is a boy who in these three years has been able to transmit his energy on and off the pitch, always putting his enormous talent at the service of the team and his teammates.

"We don't hide: It's a great loss for us. Giving up Daum is painful and today's state of mind of our fans is shared by the owners, management and technical staff. At the same time, we felt it was our duty to satisfy Mike's desire and ambition, giving him the opportunity to compete at the highest European level wearing the vest of one of the most prestigious clubs on the continental scene, with the pride of having contributed to his growth, and I hope to see him excel again."

So, after becoming a fan favorite at Derthona, it's on to the ball club in Istanbul, Turkey, for Daum. He moves on with a number of Derthona scoring and rebound records and playoff appearances.

The 6-9 forward played five games, two of them starts, with his new Anadolu Efes team through Dec. 20, averaging 24:21 minutes, 13.6 points and 2.6 rebounds a game. He was shooting 12-for-15 in 2-point range, 12-for-27 behind the arc, and 8-for-8 at the line.

Last week, the Efes had a first place record of 10-2 in the Turkish league and were 7-8 in the EuroLeague, ranking 13th among 18 teams.

After graduating from Kimball High, Daum was a three-time Summit League player of the year at South Dakota State and signed his first pro contract with the Monbus Obradoiro team in Spain.