ROMA (EuroBasket 2015) - When Alessandro Gentile received the MVP trophy following the conclusion of the Italian league finals, he stood on the scorers' table with the crowd on its feet and, for a moment, his mind went back to last summer's EuroBasket.

The experience in Slovenia in 2013 was, by his own admission, one that brought him to the next level.

"At EuroBasket, I felt I played my best basketball, it was a learning experience. It was the start of a very important 2013-14 season which ended better than I could dream. It was an unforgettable week, winning the Italian title with Emporio Armani Milano and getting picked in the NBA Draft," said Gentile.

In 48 hours, the 21-year-old small forward led Milano to its first title in 18 years, giving Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani his first trophy since he took over as the club's owner.

But between Game 6 and Game7 of the tight final series against former champions Montepaschi Siena, Milano's captain was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets (who acquired his rights from the Minnesota Timberwolves) with the 53th pick.

"It all happened so fast, I need some vacation in order to put everything in order," said Gentile.

"I had a big chance to play in a first-class European club like Milano, I always felt their confidence and I increased my experience with Italy."

"Playing at EuroBasket 2013 was huge because of the level of competition but also because of the pride you feel by wearing your national team's shirt."

And it could get even bigger now: beside the emotional boost provided by the Italian title won with Milano, Gentile will team up with his older brother Stefano for the first summer campaign together, at the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifying Round against Russia and Switzerland.

It's no surprise, considering Gentile is a legendary name for Italian basketball. Alessandro is the youngest member of the 'dynasty'. His father, Ferdinando, won the FIBA EuroLeague title in 2000 with Panathinaikos Athens.

Ferdinando was also Alessandro's first coach and still remembers how the beginning was anything but easy: "At age nine, he didn't like playing basketball. He really fell in love with the game later, after the U14 national finals, and basketball became his life.

"It was like at primary school. We moved to Athens when Alessandro was five. In the beginning, he didn't speak English and was unhappy. The school's principal told me: 'In two months he will speak English better than us'. The principal was right," Ferdinando recalled.

In 1996, Milano's title had been marked by captain Ferdinando Gentile. Eighteen years later, Emporio Armani broke their barren run thanks to the family legacy: Alessandro was the captain and wore the same jersey number (#5) as his father and provided the same leadership, with the same fire in his eyes.

In the do-or-die Game 7, Gentile took the biggest responsibilities, scoring the key points in the fourth quarter, when his team was trailing by eight points. The picture made by scoring abilities and leadership that brought Gentile into the NBA's spotlight.

Italy could soon have another player in the NBA, alongside guard Marco Belinelli (who won the title with the San Antonio Spurs), big man Andrea Bargnani (New York Knicks), forward Danilo Gallinari (Denver Nuggets) and Gigi Datome (Detroit Pistons).

But Gentile decided that his immediate future is still in Milano, having signed an extension keeping him there through 2017.

"I thank Emporio Armani because they have always trusted in me," he said.

"But I was also very proud that the Rockets picked me. Houston showed big confidence in my abilities. I hope someday I will be part of the NBA world."

For now, Gentile is focused on his next stop, which will be with the national team, as he joins Simone Pianigiani's squad in mid-July. With only one NBA player (Datome) on the Azzurri squad in their run to qualify for EuroBasket 2015, the 2.00m forward knows a lot will be expected of him.

"We have several players able to play important roles. We are going to start our road to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. I still remember our national team's silver medal at Athens 2004, It would be amazing to play such a big tournament."

FIBA