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Pistons hire former Euroleague legend JR Holden as scout

Holden won two Euroleague titles and was named to the All-Decade team.

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

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.

His famously hit the game-winning jumper with three seconds left to give Russia the Eurobasket title over heavily favored Spain in 2007.

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.

H/T to nels1 who had it first in comments.