Simone Fontecchio, a Detroit Pistons small forward, is one of 11 Italian-born players in NBA history. He started playing basketball professionally in the 2012–13 season with the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) Virtus Bologna. After four seasons, he tried his hand at the NBA but went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft. He spent more than a decade with the EuroLeague, Spain's Liga ACB, and Italy's Serie A (LBA), playing for teams like Baskonia, Cremona, Virtus Bologna, Reggio Emilia, and Milano. In July 2022, he signed a two-year contract with the Utah Jazz and played in 102 games over 2 seasons and started 40, averaging 14.4 points, 2.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds. In February 2024, he was traded to the Pistons, signing a new two-year contract worth $16 million in July.
Fontecchio was born in Pescara, Italy, and had competed for Italy in a number of under-16 and under-20 tournaments. He made it to the quarterfinals of both the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics while playing for Italy internationally. He was selected for the 2023 All-FIBA World Cup Second Team. He has three Italian Super Cup victories and was selected as an LBA All-Star in 2014. At the NBA, in the 2023-24 season, he played in 16 games, starting 9, averaging 15.4 points, 1.8 assists and 4.4 rebounds.
Who are Simone Fontecchio's parents?
Simone Fontecchio’s parents are Daniele Fontecchio and Mali Pomilo; both are national athletes. Luca, Simone’s older brother, made it through Virtus' youth ranks and has played in lower divisions.
Who is Simone Fontecchio’s mother?
Simone Fontecchio’s mother, Malì Pomilio, was an excellent basketball player for Italy and led AS Vicenza, an Italian women’s basketball team, to two European championships. In fact, Simone's maternal grandfather, Vittorio, also represented the Italian National Team in basketball from 1957 to 1960, as per his NBA bio.
Who is Simone Fontecchio’s father?
Fontecchio's father, Daniele Fontecchio, was a star track and field athlete who won 10 national titles in Italy and silver medals in the 60-meter hurdles at the 1986 European Indoor Championships and the 110-meter hurdles at the 1985 European Cup.
Daniele participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics 110 m hurdles race and reached the semi-finals, finishing 6th, as per Olympedia. In August 1985, he set a personal best time of 13.66 seconds in Moscow. He is 63 years old as of November 2024. He was born on 29 December 1960, in Pescara, Italy.
What is Simone Fontecchio's parents' nationality?
Simone Fontecchio's parents, Daniele and Mali, both are of Italian nationality, given that they both have represented Italy in the national and Olympic games.
FAQs on Simone Fontecchio
A. Simone Fontecchio’s parents are Daniele Fontecchio and Malì Pomilio. Both are athletes and have represented Italy nationally and in the Olympics.
A. Yes, Simone Fontecchio has an older brother, Luca, who is also a professional basketball player who played for the youth ranks of Virtus.
A. Simone’s father, Daniele Fontecchio, is a former hurdler who won 10 national titles and two European silver medals.
A. In the Simone Fontecchio averages 8.6 points in two seasons, as of 2023-24 season.
A. Simone Fontecchio was born and raised in Pescara, Italy, though he moved to Bologna at the age of 14 to play for the Virtus Bologna of the LBA.