Anthony Cowan joins Cedevita Olimpija as new point guard

Cedevita Olimpija has strengthened its roster ahead of the 2026/27 season by signing American point guard Anthony Cowan. The 28-year-old arrives in Ljubljana after an outstanding campaign with Turkish side Mersin and has signed a one-year contract with the Dragons.

Cowan will wear the green and orange jersey for the first time in the 2026/27 season, adding quality and experience to head coach Zvezdan Mitrović’s backcourt. Last season, he averaged 14.9 points and 6.8 assists per game in the Turkish League, finishing as Mersin’s leading scorer and assist provider. He also impressed in the Basketball Champions League, where he averaged 13.6 points and 5.4 assists across eight appearances.

“We believe we have signed a point guard who can take responsibility, make his teammates better and be a scoring threat at the same time. Anthony has consistently proven his quality in European basketball and has been one of the key players on every team he has played for. With significant interest in Umoja Gibson, we had to react in time and find a player capable of replacing him. Once the opportunity to bring Anthony to Ljubljana became available, we didn’t hesitate,” said Cedevita Olimpija Sporting Director Chechu Mulero following the signing.

Head coach Zvezdan Mitrović revealed that Cowan had been on the club’s radar for quite some time. “Anthony was on our shortlist two years ago when I arrived in Ljubljana, but at the time we couldn’t afford to sign him because of our budget. Now, with the possibility of losing both of our point guards, Gibson and Nikolić, we had to find the right solution. Through both his attitude and his performances with previous clubs, Anthony has shown why he is such a highly regarded player. Although his team didn’t have its best season last year, I believe he still has plenty of room to grow and that he will reach his full potential with us.”

After signing with the Dragons, Cowan shared his excitement about the move. “I spoke with some former teammates who played in Ljubljana, and they all told me that Cedevita Olimpija is a very professional club and that Ljubljana is a beautiful city. I’m excited that it will soon become my new home. I want to continue developing as a player, help the team win as many games as possible and contribute to a successful season.”

Before beginning his professional career in Europe, Anthony Cowan spent four seasons at the University of Maryland, where he helped the Terrapins reach the NCAA Tournament. During his senior year, he earned All-Big Ten First Team honors before starting his professional career with the Memphis Hustle, the NBA G League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies.

His European journey began with Aris in Greece, where he quickly established himself as one of the league’s top point guards and finished as the Greek League’s regular season scoring champion. He then spent two successful seasons with Promitheas Patras, competing in both the Greek League and the BKT EuroCup.

In the 2024/25 season, Cowan played for Wolves Vilnius, where he was named the Lithuanian League MVP and continued to shine in the BKT EuroCup, averaging 16.3 points and 6.0 assists per game. During that campaign, he was also twice named EuroCup MVP of the Round.

Following his season in Turkey, Cowan spent part of the year playing in Puerto Rico for the Quebradillas Pirates.