The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

TRAVIS Munnings will return to Portugal for a second season but will make the move to a new club in the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol (LPB).

Munnings has signed with Sporting Lisboa Benfica, the team that eliminated his UD Oliveirense club in the quarterfinals of last season’s playoffs.

“I feel like we have a great connection, great understanding between me and the coach and I feel like it’s going to help in continuing to improve my game, continuing to do exactly what he wants me to do,” Munnings said. “My best quality as a player is my communication.”

In his debut season in the LPB, Munnings averaged 12.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game and helped lead UD Oliveirense to a 19-7 regular season record.

He averaged 11.2 points and seven rebounds per game in the quarterfinals against Benfica.

Munnings said his addition to the Benfica roster can be the deciding factor to help the club advance beyond the semifinals this season.

“I feel like I’m going to do great. I feel like I’m going to bring that energy, bring everyone to their best and bring everything that it takes for my team to win,” he said.

“We’re coming to win everything, we’re coming to win it all.”

The versatile 6’7” forward recently completed his NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League debut with Golden State Warriors.

In his best performance in Las Vegas, he scored eight points on 2-3 shooting from beyond the arc in an 80-79 overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

At the national team level, he recently led The Bahamas to an undefeated FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Pre-Qualifiers performance and participated in the AmeriCup qualifiers in February. He led The Bahamas in scoring in both tournaments as well as led the team in rebounds during the World Cup Americas Pre-Qualifiers.

Following his four-year collegiate career with the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks, Munnings originally signed with ADA Blois Basket 41 of the French ProB League - the second tier division - but was released at the end of the preseason in September before he played a single game.

Prior to the 2019 NBA Draft, he was invited to pre-draft workouts with the Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, and Minnesota Timberwolves before eventually going undrafted.

Munnings went on to make his pro debut with La Rochelle Stade Rochelais of France’s NM1 League. He averaged 17.5 points, eight rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.