Battle signs with Cibona for the 2026/27 season

Khalif Battle is a 26-year-old guard standing 196 centimeters tall, arriving at Cibona after spending his first professional season with Italian club Dolomiti Energia Trento. He competed in Italy’s Serie A and the EuroCup, averaging 12.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in the domestic league.

Before moving to Europe, he enjoyed a notable college career, playing for Butler, Temple, Arkansas and Gonzaga. In the 2022/23 season, he led Temple in scoring with 17.9 points per game, while the following year he averaged 14.8 points for Arkansas. He played his final NCAA season at Gonzaga, helping the team win the West Coast Conference Tournament and earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. For Gonzaga, he averaged 13.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, while shooting an impressive 93.2 percent from the free-throw line.

After completing his college career, Battle also competed in the NBA Summer League with the Phoenix Suns, scoring 21 points while adding five assists and four rebounds against the Portland Trail Blazers.

“Khalif Battle is a young, modern player with excellent athletic ability and versatility, meaning he can cover multiple perimeter positions. Last season, he completed his rookie year in Italy, taking his first step toward adapting to European basketball. We believe that with our jersey he can take another step forward and bring a new dimension to our game”, said Cibona head coach Ivan Rudež.

Battle primarily plays the shooting guard position. He stands out for his ability to create his own shot, attack the rim and play in transition, while also being capable of taking on some playmaking responsibilities. With his combination of energy, speed and two-way ability, he should provide additional depth and versatility to Cibona’s backcourt.

We would like to welcome Battle to Cibona, Zagreb and Dražen's home.