FIBA Basketball
ITA - Bargnani leaves basketball spellbound
TREVISO (FIBA World Championship 2006) - Andrea Bargnani doesn't wear a top hat or carry a wand.The rising Benetton Treviso star does perform many a trick on the hardwood, though.That is why former Italian international Riccardo Pittis, one of the all-time greats at Benetton, nicknamed his
TREVISO (FIBA World Championship 2006) - Andrea Bargnani doesn't wear a top hat or carry a wand.
The rising Benetton Treviso star does perform many a trick on the hardwood, though.
That is why former Italian international Riccardo Pittis, one of the all-time greats at Benetton, nicknamed his ex-team-mate 'the Magician' a few years ago.
Having played alongside the youngster in training soon after Bargnani's arrival at the club in 2003, Pittis believed the sobriquet suited the talented teenager to a tee.
Now 20 years old and in his third Lega A campaign with Benetton, the seven-foot Bargnani's magic touch has helped the club maintain its standing as one of the best in Italy and Europe.
His excellent shooting touch from three-point range, his ferocious drives to the basket and his wonderful ability to block shots have been instrumental in Benetton's nine wins in 12 Lega A games.
Like the player he is most often compared to, Germany superstar Dirk Nowitzki, the Rome-born Bargnani is showing he is the complete package.
"I'm really delighted with how the season is going," Bargnani said to PA Sport. "I'm playing more minutes and I'm having lots of fun."
In seven Euroleague games, he has averaged just 13 minutes per game with modest numbers - 6.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per contest. He is playing almost 20 minutes per game in Lega A, however, averaging 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds.
Bargnani is also shooting 47% from behind the arc, having drained 18 of 38 on the season. As a result, Benetton are joint top of the standings with Climamio Fortitudo Bologna.
Bargnani, along with Fortitudo's exciting youngsters Marco Belinelli and Stefano Mancinelli, and Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia's Angelo Gigli are the shining hope of Italian basketball.
"We hope to be just that," said Bargnani, who has put his political science studies at university on hold to concentrate on his basketball career. "But we are still growing as players. I just hope we can mature fast."
All stand an excellent chance of playing at the FIBA World Championship next year in Japan.
Fabrizio Frates sure regrets that Bargnani was unable to play for his young Italy team at the U20 European Championship in Russia.
Injury prevented him from taking part and Frates' team ended up in eighth place.
"Had we had Bargnani this summer, we would have won a medal," said Frates, who believes the youngster is Italy's next great player in waiting. "However much I like Angelo Gigli, I think there is a notable difference between him and Bargnani.
"They are both great players but Bargnani has an enormous talent with respect to Gigli. It's really the merit of his mother that he was born like this because it's not something you pick up in the gym."
His mother Luisa did more than give birth to a baby who would grow into a giant. She introduced him to the game when he was just six years old.
"My mother took me to watch my uncle play a game at Perugina Jeans Basket," he said. "From then on, basketball has been in my life. From her, I also inherited her height gene."
Bargnani began playing the game in his village, Trezzano Rosa, before joining Rome-based club Stella Azzurra in 1999, a move that would lead to his introduction to the national team set-up.
In 2003, Bargnani was officially a star on the rise when he joined Benetton.
"I was delighted that a club like Benetton wanted me," he said. "At Treviso, I have found a great atmosphere to learn in, to become a better player.
"At this level, there is always pressure but I have never felt it at Benetton."
In Treviso, he found in then coach Ettore Messina a great mentor.
"With Messina I learned how to defend," said Bargnani. "When I arrived in Treviso, my defensive play was so ridiculous, almost embarrassing, but with practice and a great coach as Messina is, I got better.
"But I still have to improve my game a lot, especially underneath the basket."
Benetton offered him the chance to play among the best in Europe.
"I gain my inspiration from watching those players who I have trained with, such as Marcus Goree, Jorge Garbajosa and Pittis," he said.
Goree is still at Benetton, while Pittis has retired and Garbajosa left Treviso two years ago and returned to Spain to play for Unicaja Malaga.
Bargnani played just eight games in his first campaign before spending 116 minutes on the court in the 2004-05 campaign, a season which saw him earn his first title, the Coppa Italia.
He grew so confident as a player that his invitation to the 2004 Hoops Summit in San Antonio, where the best young players from the USA and the rest of the world come face to face, came as no surprise.
"It was a fantastic experience," said Bargnani. "We trained where Tony Parker trains and it was unbelievable. I didn't get to talk to him because I don't speak English."
High praise
Dan Peterson is an American who is a legendary basketball coach in Italy. Among his many achievements was leading Tracer Milano to the European title in 1987. He believes Bargnani could end up being an improved version of Nowitzki.
After Bargnani had dominated in a recent game against Lottomatica Roma when he guarded Serbo-Montenegrin Dejan Bodiroga, Peterson said: "Andrea defends even better than Nowitzki."
Everyone is tipping Bargnani to be a hit in the NBA.
Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird was captivated by the youngster when he watched him play in their 91-74 triumph over Virtus on December 8.
Bargnani had 11 points, five rebounds and three blocks in that triumph.
"He is truly beautiful to watch, he is fast and co-ordinated," said Bird.
The NBA is not on Bargnani's mind.
"I really see the NBA as being very distant right now," he said.
"I don't think about it. My aim is to do well with Benetton and my dream is to play with the national team."
Bargnani has yet to make his debut in Carlo Recalcati's senior Italy team.
With the Azzurri having been granted a wild card for the FIBA World Championship next year, and the federation admitting the squad needs to be freshened up, Bargnani is expected to play in Japan.
No wave of the magic wand will be necessary for that to happen. It's obvious that he's good enough already.
From Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA Sport, Rome. Exclusively for FIBA.
The rising Benetton Treviso star does perform many a trick on the hardwood, though.
That is why former Italian international Riccardo Pittis, one of the all-time greats at Benetton, nicknamed his ex-team-mate 'the Magician' a few years ago.
Having played alongside the youngster in training soon after Bargnani's arrival at the club in 2003, Pittis believed the sobriquet suited the talented teenager to a tee.
Now 20 years old and in his third Lega A campaign with Benetton, the seven-foot Bargnani's magic touch has helped the club maintain its standing as one of the best in Italy and Europe.
His excellent shooting touch from three-point range, his ferocious drives to the basket and his wonderful ability to block shots have been instrumental in Benetton's nine wins in 12 Lega A games.
Like the player he is most often compared to, Germany superstar Dirk Nowitzki, the Rome-born Bargnani is showing he is the complete package.
"I'm really delighted with how the season is going," Bargnani said to PA Sport. "I'm playing more minutes and I'm having lots of fun."
In seven Euroleague games, he has averaged just 13 minutes per game with modest numbers - 6.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per contest. He is playing almost 20 minutes per game in Lega A, however, averaging 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds.
Bargnani is also shooting 47% from behind the arc, having drained 18 of 38 on the season. As a result, Benetton are joint top of the standings with Climamio Fortitudo Bologna.
Bargnani, along with Fortitudo's exciting youngsters Marco Belinelli and Stefano Mancinelli, and Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia's Angelo Gigli are the shining hope of Italian basketball.
"We hope to be just that," said Bargnani, who has put his political science studies at university on hold to concentrate on his basketball career. "But we are still growing as players. I just hope we can mature fast."
All stand an excellent chance of playing at the FIBA World Championship next year in Japan.
Fabrizio Frates sure regrets that Bargnani was unable to play for his young Italy team at the U20 European Championship in Russia.
Injury prevented him from taking part and Frates' team ended up in eighth place.
"Had we had Bargnani this summer, we would have won a medal," said Frates, who believes the youngster is Italy's next great player in waiting. "However much I like Angelo Gigli, I think there is a notable difference between him and Bargnani.
"They are both great players but Bargnani has an enormous talent with respect to Gigli. It's really the merit of his mother that he was born like this because it's not something you pick up in the gym."
His mother Luisa did more than give birth to a baby who would grow into a giant. She introduced him to the game when he was just six years old.
"My mother took me to watch my uncle play a game at Perugina Jeans Basket," he said. "From then on, basketball has been in my life. From her, I also inherited her height gene."
Bargnani began playing the game in his village, Trezzano Rosa, before joining Rome-based club Stella Azzurra in 1999, a move that would lead to his introduction to the national team set-up.
In 2003, Bargnani was officially a star on the rise when he joined Benetton.
"I was delighted that a club like Benetton wanted me," he said. "At Treviso, I have found a great atmosphere to learn in, to become a better player.
"At this level, there is always pressure but I have never felt it at Benetton."
In Treviso, he found in then coach Ettore Messina a great mentor.
"With Messina I learned how to defend," said Bargnani. "When I arrived in Treviso, my defensive play was so ridiculous, almost embarrassing, but with practice and a great coach as Messina is, I got better.
"But I still have to improve my game a lot, especially underneath the basket."
Benetton offered him the chance to play among the best in Europe.
"I gain my inspiration from watching those players who I have trained with, such as Marcus Goree, Jorge Garbajosa and Pittis," he said.
Goree is still at Benetton, while Pittis has retired and Garbajosa left Treviso two years ago and returned to Spain to play for Unicaja Malaga.
Bargnani played just eight games in his first campaign before spending 116 minutes on the court in the 2004-05 campaign, a season which saw him earn his first title, the Coppa Italia.
He grew so confident as a player that his invitation to the 2004 Hoops Summit in San Antonio, where the best young players from the USA and the rest of the world come face to face, came as no surprise.
"It was a fantastic experience," said Bargnani. "We trained where Tony Parker trains and it was unbelievable. I didn't get to talk to him because I don't speak English."
High praise
Dan Peterson is an American who is a legendary basketball coach in Italy. Among his many achievements was leading Tracer Milano to the European title in 1987. He believes Bargnani could end up being an improved version of Nowitzki.
After Bargnani had dominated in a recent game against Lottomatica Roma when he guarded Serbo-Montenegrin Dejan Bodiroga, Peterson said: "Andrea defends even better than Nowitzki."
Everyone is tipping Bargnani to be a hit in the NBA.
Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird was captivated by the youngster when he watched him play in their 91-74 triumph over Virtus on December 8.
Bargnani had 11 points, five rebounds and three blocks in that triumph.
"He is truly beautiful to watch, he is fast and co-ordinated," said Bird.
The NBA is not on Bargnani's mind.
"I really see the NBA as being very distant right now," he said.
"I don't think about it. My aim is to do well with Benetton and my dream is to play with the national team."
Bargnani has yet to make his debut in Carlo Recalcati's senior Italy team.
With the Azzurri having been granted a wild card for the FIBA World Championship next year, and the federation admitting the squad needs to be freshened up, Bargnani is expected to play in Japan.
No wave of the magic wand will be necessary for that to happen. It's obvious that he's good enough already.
From Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA Sport, Rome. Exclusively for FIBA.