NBA's Childress joins Olympiakos

ATHENS (Reuters) - Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Childress has left the NBA to join Greek A1 side Olympiakos Piraeus.

The 25-year-old Californian has signed a three-year deal which, according to reports in the Greek media on Thursday, is worth 12.6 million euros ($19.74 million).

"It's official, I have signed," he told reporters.

"I was in a situation that I really didn't know what my answer would be when I got to Athens. But it's a great city and a great team, and they did everything to make me feel at home."

The 2.03-metre tall Childress averaged 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in the 76 games he played for the Hawks last season.

Olympiakos were runners-up in the Greek league last season and have qualified for the EuroLeague.

Childress will be joined by Greek internationals Theo Papaloukas, who returns to the club after winning the EuroLeague last season with CSKA Moscow, and Michalis Pelekanos who has joined from Real Madrid.

(Reporting by Barney Spender, editing by Rex Gowar)