Are there Italian NBA Players?

The Italian national basketball team is the national basketball team of Italy. It plays in international basketball tournaments and is governed by the Italian Basketball Federation (FIP).

Italy's men's national basketball team has competed in 38 Eurobasket tournaments and won two gold medals in 1983 (for Italy) and 1999 (for Italy), four silver medals won in 1937 (for Italy), 1946 (for Italy), 1991 (for Spain), and 2003 (for Italy), and four bronze medals won in 1971 (for Italy), 1975 (for Italy), 1985, and 2003 (for Spain). Italy has made nine World Cup appearances, with the closest to a medal being in the 1970 and 1978 editions, when it finished fourth. Italy has competed in 13 Summer Olympics, winning two silver medals in 1980 and 2004 (for Italy). Italy is ranked 10th as per the recent FIBA World Ranking.

Italy announced its 16-player roster on July 19, 2023. The Italian FIBA 2023 squad includes Marco Spissu, Niccolo Mannion, Stefano Tonut, Nicolò Melli, Simone Fontecchio, Gabriele Procida, Giampaolo Ricci, Matteo Spagnolo, Guglielmo Caruso, Achille Polonara, Tomas Woldetensae, Riccardo Visconti, Mouhamet Diouf, Luca Severini, Alessandro Pajola and Luigi Datome.

Italy is set to take on Angola in its first FIBA World Cup match on August 25th. The game will be played at 13:30 in Manila, Philippines at the Philippines Arena. It's also the first game of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Italian NBA Players in FIBA 2023

Italy has a rich basketball history, and the country has produced several talented players who have played in the NBA. The current Italian squad also has three players who play in the NBA.

• Simone Fontecchio is an Italian player who could make a significant impact in the FIBA World Cup. He has been playing for the Utah Jazz since 2022. Fontecchio is a 6'8" small forward who has consistently showcased his scoring ability and versatility in European competitions. With his potential, Fontecchio could be a valuable asset for Italy's national team in the World Cup.

• Matteo Spagnolo is another player who was recently drafted with the 50th overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2022 NBA draft.

• Gabriele Procida was also declared for the NBA draft and was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers as the 36th overall pick of the second round. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons immediately.

There are three players in the Italian FIBA 2023 squad with prior NBA experience. Luigi Datome, who played for the Detroit Pistons (2013-2015) and Boston Celtics (2015), Nicolò Melli, who played for the New Orleans Pelicans(2019-2021), and Dallas Mavericks (2021) and Nico Mannion, who played in the NBA for Golden State Warriors and in the NBA G League for Santa Cruz Warrior(NBA G League) in 2020-2021.

Italy has a rich basketball tradition and has produced several skilled players who have excelled in the NBA. Few names are mentioned below:

• Players like Danilo Gallinari played for teams such as the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, and currently, the Washington Wizards. He was a reliable scorer and his shooting ability from beyond the arc makes him a valuable asset for Italy's national team. Gallinari has been a key player for Italy in previous international competitions.

• Marco Belinelli was another talent in the Italian national team who played for various teams in the NBA, including the San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, and Philadelphia 76ers. He has showcased his ability to score from long range and has proven to be a reliable perimeter threat throughout his career.

It is important to note that the final roster selections for the FIBA World Cup are made by the Italian Basketball Federation (FIP). The FIP considers factors such as player availability, form, and team chemistry when selecting the national team.

Italy has the talent to compete at a high level in the FIBA World Cup 2023. The Italian national team will undoubtedly showcase their passion and skill on the court, vying for success against some of the best international teams. It will be intriguing to see how Italy performs in the upcoming tournament.