RealGM

The Detroit Pistons hired former CSKA Moscow star JR Holden to it's scouting staff. While no specific duties were revealed, it wouldn't be surprising if Holden was hired to focus on international prospects as he spent more than 10 years as one of the most successful American-born players to play overseas.

Holden won national championships in Latvia, Belgium, Greece and Russia, where he had his greatest success, winning nine consecutive national titles from 2003-11. He also won two Euroleague titles with CSKA Moscow in 2006 and 2008. He was such a standout player he was named a Russian citizen by decree of President Vladimir Putin and holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and in Russia.

Holden played 12 years of international ball and holds several international records. Not bad for a smallish point guard out of Bucknell University. The news was first reported by international basketball writer David Pick and Holden lists the Pistons as his current employer on his LinkedIn page.

DetroitPistons wrote:Hopefully this doesn't mean we will be drafting a bunch of soft jump shooting Euro busts in the future.