CHICAGO, Sept. 27 -- Center John Salley, one of the reserve centers on the Chicago Bulls championship team this past season, Friday signed a contract to play for Panathinaikos in Greece. Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Salley's agent, Anthony Hilliard, said it was in excess of $2 million.
The two sides came to agreement after the 32-year-old Salley played 14 minutes against Barcelona in Spain on Wednesday. Salley split time last season with the Bulls and the Toronto Raptors, where he started the season. He appeared in 17 games and averaged 2.1 points and 2.5 rebounds for both teams. Salley opted to go overseas when the Bulls signed 43-year-old center Robert Parish to a two-year contract Wednesday. Parish is the oldest player in the game and will be playing his 21st season. The veteran center was one of the 'Bad Boys' of the Detroit Pistons that won NBA titles in 1989 and 1990. Salley has never averaged double figures in scoring in his career. His best season came in 1991-92 when he averaged 9.5 points. Salley averaged a career-best 5.4 rebounds in both 1989-90 and 1993-94. Panathinaikos won the European Cup last year and view Salley as a key component in their quest to repeat as champions. Last year, former Atlanta Hawks standout guard Dominique Wilkins played for Panathinaikos.
