The expansion Tokyo Cinq Reves have released center Ilija Milutinovic, the bj-league team announced on Wednesday.
The 211-cm Serbian had previously been let go by the Gunma Crane Thunders, another first-year franchise, during the preseason before joining coach Motofumi Aoki's club.
The 24-year-old played in five games for the Cinq Reves, but was sidelined last Saturday in the series finale against the host Toyama Grouses due to an unspecified injury. A team spokesperson did not respond to inquiries about Milutinovic at press time.
In the series opener against the Grouses, he had six points, three rebounds and three assists in 13 minutes.
Milutinovic appeared in five games for Tokyo, playing between 13 and 18 minutes in all of them. He averaged 6.6 points and 3.6 rebounds. He scored a season-high 15 points in Tokyo's season opener on Oct. 13 against the Chiba Jets.
Last season, Milutinovic, who attended Oakland University in Michigan, played for Olimpi Tbilisi in the Georgian League.
Big man Jonathan Jones leads Tokyo in scoring (22.3 ppg) and has notched three double-doubles. University of Kentucky product Jared Carter, a 216-cm center, is averaging 8.2 ppg. The Cinq Reves will likely sign another foreigner to take Milutinovic's place on the roster.
The team's other import player, guard Rasheem Barrett, an Auburn University alum, is averaging 8.3 ppg.
Tokyo (2-4) faces the host Akita Northern Happinets (4-0) this weekend.
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