Another CBA Most Valuable Player is receiving an international opportunity. The league's 2017 MVP, Illinois Coal Miners' guard, Tyron Criswell, landed his first career international professional basketball contract this past weekend in Israel, as the 6-foot-4 Omaha-native signed with Orthodox Bethlehem in the Palestinian Basketball Association (PBAA).
In eight games this season, Criswell averaged 21.6 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, and 1.8 steals per game for the Illinois Coal Miners. For players that played in at least five regular season games this year, Criswell led the league in points per game, and was in the top-10 in rebounds per game and assists per game. He also led the league in free throw shooting percentage, for players attempting at least forty free throws this season, shooting 83.6% from the free throw line.
Furthermore, Criswell scored over thirty points twice this year, and over twenty points in a game five times. He was second in the league in most points scored in a game with 36, which he achieved via a 15-for-23 performance against Indianapolis in early April.
Prior to playing in the CBA, Criswell completed his college basketball career at the University of Nevada last year, and led his college squad to the CBI Tournament championship, where he was named the tournament's best athlete. Later in the year, Criswell was drafted in the third round of the 2016 NBA D-League Draft by the Reno Bighorns.
The last four players to earn the Most Valuable Player award in the CBA have now received international opportunities. The 2014 CBA MVP, Fort Wayne's Antonio Cannon, played in Brazil and Canada. The 2015 CBA MVP, Mississippi's Mardracus Wade, played in Taiwan before receiving three consecutive NBA D-League contracts with the Iowa Energy and Greensboro Swarm. The 2016 CBA MVP, Columbus' Brett McKnight, played in Taiwan last year, and now as this year's MVP, Criswell will look to take advantage of his first global opportunity in Israel.
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