SOUTH PORTLAND — Nik Caner-Medley had finished the second of his two daily workouts, a regimen he’s been following five days a week this summer.

“Some guys don’t touch a basketball at all during the offseason and go to training camp looking to get in shape,” he said last week at the fitness center at Southern Maine Community College. “This is a contract year for me, so it’s important to stay healthy and have a good season.”

Nik Caner-Medley, working out in South Portland, is entering the second year of a two-year $2 million contract, which makes the upcoming season in Kazakhstan an important one. Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Caner-Medley, 31, has played professional basketball overseas for nearly a decade. The former Deering High and University of Maryland star signed a two-year contract in 2014 with BC Astana for $2 million. Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan, a central Asian nation that was formerly part of the Soviet Union. The team plays in the VTB United League and the Euro Challenge League.

“Nik has done more than anyone else from Maine at the professional level,” said Mike Francoeur, Caner-Medley’s coach at Deering High.

“A lot of guys play one year and are done. Nik has made his mark playing at the highest levels in Europe,” added longtime Portland High coach Joe Russo. “He has maximized his opportunities and made a nice living playing professional basketball.”

Caner-Medley, a 6-foot-8 power forward, also has played in Germany, Spain and Israel. His missed the first two months of his first season with Astana after fracturing his transverse process – a bony protrusion of the vertebrae – in his lower back.

“I leapt out to defend a shooter in the corner, he undercut me and I flipped, landing on my back,” he said.

Once recovered from the injury, Caner-Medley played in 15 games in the VTB League, averaging 13.5 points. He played in seven games in the Euro Challenge and averaged 17.0 points.

The biggest adjustment in playing in Kazakhstan, which borders Russia, China and three other former parts of the Soviet Union, is the travel.

“It takes a while to adjust physically to it. It’s a 4 1/2-hour flight to Moscow,” he said.

Still, there are perks of playing for Astana, including a driver to take him to and from home games.

“They’ve only had a team in Kazakhstan for about five years. The fans are so excited to have a team. They love their basketball,” he said.

Caner-Medley said he feels he could play until age 40. He said he’s fortunate to have avoided more significant injuries.

“I’ll see what happens after this season,” he said. “Maybe I’ll sign another two-year contract with the team. That will take me to 35 and we’ll see what happens after that.

“It’s a business and you have to look out for your best interests. I’ve moved around so much.”

Caner-Medley played briefly in the NBA Development League in 2007 and played three years in the NBA’s summer league in Las Vegas. But he said he’s found his niche overseas.

“It’s a process. You have to build relationships,” he said. “In the NBA, a rookie signs a big contract based on potential. In Europe, they want their players to be proven stars before offering a lot of money.”

He bought a house in Portland earlier this year and splits time between Maine and Miami, where he also owns property.

“I have my own place here so I’m able to train in Maine, which I love being able to do,” he said.

And he gives back to the city where he grew up.

Last year, Caner-Medley purchased a scoreboard for Deering’s gym. This summer he’s underwriting a youth basketball clinic at Kennedy Park in Portland. The TRU (Together Reaching Unity) Clinic on Aug. 8 will feature local high school coaches and players helping with instruction. The day will end with an all-star game between some of the state’s top high school players.

“It’s great when professional athletes give back to their community,” Francoeur said.

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