(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
Former ASU guard Kodi Justice, part of a senior core that led the Sun Devils to their first NCAA tournament since 2014, agreed to a one-year deal with Russian club Parma Basket, the team announced Monday.
Justice, 23, worked out for the Suns, Kings and Thunder prior to the NBA draft. There were discussions about a possible summer-league invite but, ultimately, talks fell through. He also spoke with teams in Italy and Turkey as recently as July 5 before deciding on Parma Basket.
“This league is one of the top leagues so, as soon as [Parma] jumped in, it was a no-brainer for me,” Justice told WCSN on Tuesday. “I wanted to be able to play at the highest level. All my hard work is finally paying off. I’m finally making a dollar doing it and I’m doing it out of the country. What else could I ask for at this moment?”
The Phoenix native averaged 12.7 points and started all 32 games for the Sun Devils in 2017-18. Playing alongside Tra Holder and Shannon Evans in the last two seasons, Justice filled different roles each game depending on the match-up. On his new team, Justice-who was a point guard in high school-will return to his old duties.
“I’m able to go back to my natural role, my natural position, being a scorer, being a playmaker,” Justice said. “That’s what they want me to do. I feel like I have a chip on my shoulder, even more than I did before, because people count me out always, but I love proving people wrong.”
Justice will report to his new team in August.
