Bucks sign Sanders to multi-year extension

Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee Bucks have signed center Larry Sanders to a multi-year contract extension.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel had reported it to be a four-year, $44 million pact.

Sanders is set to enter the final season of his four-year rookie contract, and the extension would then take him through the 2017-18 campaign.

"By combining his God-given ability with hard work and determination, Larry has developed into one of the top young defensive players in the league," said Bucks general manager John Hammond in a statement Tuesday. "He is a very important part of what we are doing in Milwaukee, and we're excited to announce his contract extension."

Sanders averaged career highs of 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 71 games last season, finishing third in the balloting for the NBA's Most Improved Player Award. He notched a team-leading 26 double-doubles, including his first career triple-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds a franchise record- tying 10 blocks in a Nov. 30 game against Minnesota.

The 24-year-old VCU product has career averages of 6.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 183 games. The Bucks selected him with the 15th overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft.