MIAMI, FL – The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed center Keith Benson. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Benson has spent the past two seasons playing professionally in Belarus, China, Lithuania and Estonia while previously playing in Italy and the Philippines. He split last season between Neptunas Klaipeda of the Lithuanian Basketball League and BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn of the Estonian Basketball League. He appeared in 26 games (eight starts) for Neptunas, averaging 5.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 11.8 minutes while shooting 52.3 percent from the field and 80.9 percent from the line. He also appeared in 21 games (all starts) for BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn last season and averaged 15.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.67 blocks and 27.6 minutes while shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 72.9 percent from the line where he was named to the All-Estonian Third Team.
Benson has appeared in three NBA games, all with Golden State, totaling three rebounds in nine minutes of action. He also has appeared in 44 NBA Development League games (37 starts) while playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce (2011-12) and Erie BayHawks (2012-13), averaging 12.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.59 blocks and 26.0 minutes while shooting 48.3 percent from the field. In his 20 games with the Skyforce, he posted seven double-doubles while scoring in double-figures 18 times. Additionally, he has made appearances in the last three NBA Summer Leagues, mostly recently with the Orlando Magic this season, where he helped the team to the championship game after averaging 12.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.40 blocks and 23.4 minutes in five appearances (two starts). He lead the team blocks (12) and field goals made (24) while placing second in points (64), rebounds (31) and free throws made (16).
Benson was originally drafted in the second round (48th overall) in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks.