From Zagreb to Ljubljana: Jordan Gainey is the New Dragon

Cedevita Olimpija continues to build its roster for the 2026/27 season. The newest member of the Dragons is 24-year-old American guard Jordan Gainey, who arrives in Ljubljana after an outstanding season with Cedevita Junior Zagreb. With Ljubljana’s team, Gainey signed a two-year deal.

Standing 193 cm tall, Jordan Gainey made his professional debut during the 2025/26 season with Cedevita Junior. Prior to that, he spent four seasons in the NCAA, playing for the USC Upstate Spartans and the Tennessee Volunteers. Now, Gainey will look to prove himself with Cedevita Olimpija in the BKT EuroCup and the AdmiralBet ABA League.

“Jordan is a young player with tremendous potential for development. In his first season in Europe, he demonstrated quality, character, and the ability to take responsibility. We are convinced that Cedevita Olimpija will provide the right environment for him to continue his development, while we also believe that his energy, athleticism, and quality will make an important contribution toward achieving our goals in the upcoming season,” said Dragons’ Sports Director Chechu Mulero following the signing of the club’s newest addition.

“Jordan is a young and talented player who has already shown the talent, quality, and attributes needed to compete at a higher level. It is true that he still lacks experience, but we believe he has significant room for growth. We received very positive feedback about him from Cedevita Junior—they described him as hardworking, committed, and a true competitor on the court. I believe he is one of those players who can ultimately deliver even more than people might expect, which is why I would describe him as an ‘under-the-radar’ player. He gives us another valuable option in our rotation, while we continue to build the team in line with our financial capabilities and budget,” said head coach Zvezdan Mitrović after Gainey’s signing.

“I am very happy to be joining Cedevita Olimpija for the upcoming season. This is a great club with a rich tradition and an outstanding organization, and I am really looking forward to getting started with the team. My season with Cedevita Junior in Zagreb gave me a great deal of valuable experience, and I also built excellent relationships with my teammates. I believe I am ready to take the next step in my career,” said Jordan Gainey after signing his contract with Cedevita Olimpija.

After completing his collegiate career in the United States, Jordan Gainey spent his first professional season in Europe with Cedevita Junior, where he quickly established himself with a series of impressive performances. In the FIBA Europe Cup, he averaged 15.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field and more than 40 percent from three-point range.

Gainey was also one of the key players for his team in the Croatian national championship, proving he is ready for the next step in his career. He appeared in 31 domestic league games, averaging 14.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per contest.