Former Tennessee basketball standout Jordan Gainey signed a professional deal with KK Cedevita Olimpija in the Slovenian First League earlier this week, the team announced.
Gainey spent the 2025-26 season with the Cedevita Junior team, an affiliate of Cedevita Olimpija, in the Croatian basketball league. During his lone season on Cedevita Junior, Gainey averaged 14 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 31 domestic league games.
Much like his time at Tennessee, Gainey played some of his best basketball in tournament play. Gainey averaged 15.4 points on over 40% shooting from three-point range along with 2.8 rebounds and 2 assists per game in the FIBA Europe Cup.
More From RTI: Tennessee Basketball Drops Trailer for Upcoming Rick Barnes Documentary
“Jordan is a young and talented player who has already shown the talent, quality, and attributes needed to compete at a higher level,” Cedevita Olimpija head coach Zvezdan Mitrović said on signing Gainey. “It is true that he still lacks experience, but we believe he has significant room for growth. We received very positive feedback about him from Cedevita Junior—they described him as hardworking, committed, and a true competitor on the court.
“I believe he is one of those players who can ultimately deliver even more than people might expect, which is why I would describe him as an ‘under-the-radar’ player. He gives us another valuable option in our rotation, while we continue to build the team in line with our financial capabilities and budget,” said head coach Zvezdan Mitrović after Gainey’s signing.
More From RTI: Tennessee Basketball Practice Notes And Observations — July 23, 2026
Cedevita Olimpija currently has a dynasty in the Slovenian First League, winning each of the league’s last six titles. The team’s 23 all-time championships is more than triple the next closest team.
Gainey spent two seasons inside the Tennessee program after transferring in from USC Upstate. It was a shaky first season for Gainey in the SEC but he broke out as one of the conference’s best sixth men during the 2024-25 season.
The combo guard averaged 11.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Gainey also played his best basketball down the stretch of the season, averaging 14.4 points in seven postseason games including 24 points in the SEC Tournament Championship and 16 points in a Sweet 16 win over Kentucky.
