ROME (Italy) - Italy have long been one of the most respected basketball countries with two FIBA EuroBasket titles and 10 total podium finishes among their 38 appearances. But the Italians' glory days are a bit removed and they hope a major obstacle overcome in 2023 can be matched this summer.
Italy reached the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 for their first top eight result in that competition in 25 years since 1998. The Quarter-Finals in Europe have become common for Italy - getting there in the last four editions. None have produced a victory though, and Italy's last top-three showing was third place in 2003.
Italy have already started to see the results of a generational change. The likes of Gabriele Procida and Matteo Spagnolo have grown in stature to help star Simone Fontecchio and veterans Danilo Gallinari and Nicolo Melli take the next step towards their previous glory days.
Schedule
August 28: vs Greece (20:30 CET) August 30: vs Georgia (14:00 CET) August 31: vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (20:30 CET) September 2: vs Spain (20:30 CET) September 4: vs Cyprus (17:15 CET)
Star Player
Simone Fontecchio has turned into the face of the Azzurri since he has established himself in the NBA, having completed his third season in the league. And he has truly excelled with the national team - scoring at least 18 points in three consecutive major competitions.
Fontecchio really can take over games from the outside with his shooting but he can drive to the basket too. Plus his good size and strength allow him to rebound well. The new Miami Heat forward has good game understanding so he can play well in a system at both ends of the court. Now at 29, Fontecchio has gained enough experience to really take on some leadership within the team as well.
The Pescara native's first major event was the 2020 Olympics and he poured in 19 points per game. He followed that up with 19 points and 4 rebounds a game at FIBA EuroBasket 2022 before collecting 18 points and nearly 6 rebounds at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Fontecchio will be needed to score the ball this summer and the rest of his game will help out where needed.
History
Italy's qualification for FIBA EuroBasket 2025 marks their 39th overall appearance in the continent's flagship event, making them one of the most storied countries in European basketball. Of the 41 past EuroBaskets, Italy have only missed the competitions in 1949, 1961 and 2009. Italy claimed two European titles - in 1983 and 1999 - and those two crowns were part of the country's best stretch with six podium finishes in a span of 11 editions from 1983 to 2003, including a total of nine top eight finishes. But Italy's last top three result came in 2003.
Champions: 1983, 1999 Runners-up: 1937, 1946, 1991, 1997 Third Place: 1971, 1975, 1985, 2003
EuroBasket Top Scorers
Rank | Player | Games | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dino Meneghin | 57 | 638 |
2 | Marco Belinelli | 35 | 528 |
3 | Antonello Riva | 24 | 469 |
4 | Renato Villalta | 39 | 448 |
5 | Massimo Masini | 40 | 447 |
6 | Pierluigi Marzorati | 45 | 392 |
7 | Gregor Fucka | 31 | 376 |
8 | Carlton Myers | 24 | 375 |
9 | Walter Magnifico | 32 | 373 |
10 | Luigi Datome | 32 | 333 |
How they qualified
Gameday 1: ITA 87-80 TUR Gameday 2: HUN 62-83 ITA Gameday 3: ISL 71-95 ITA Gameday 4: ITA 74-81 ISL Gameday 5: TUR 67-80 TUR Gameday 6: ITA 67-71 HUN
Poll: Where will they finish?
Tickets
FIBA