Italy national team great Basile retires

ROME (Olympics) - One of the most celebrated players of Italy's national team for the past couple of decades, Gianluca Basile, has announced his retirement.

The 42-year-old, who made his senior team debut at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1998 in Athens, and then helped the Azzurri capture the FIBA EuroBasket crown the following year in France, has told lagiornatatipo.it that it's time to call it a day.

He had spent the previous four seasons playing professionally in Italy, including 2015-16 with Capo d'Orlando.

Known for his scoring and particularly the ability to hit some very long three-pointers, Basile has a lot of wonderful memories to reflect on.

"What I can say, all in all, [is that] I've done something in my career," Basile said. "At this stage, I think it's no longer the case to continue because as you enter the pathetic, 42 years, you feel them, physically but especially mentally.

"It's difficult to retire from basketball but even more difficult to announce it publicly. But I think I'm doing it now…thanks to everyone."

Carlton Myers and Gregor Fucka were the stars of the Italy sides in 1999 and again in 2000, when the national team reached the Quarter-Finals at the Sydney Olympic Games.

Once Basile became one of the leading contributors in the squad for FIBA EuroBasket 2003 and the 2004 Olympics, along with Massimo Bulleri and Giacomo Galanda, the Italians amazed.

"What happened with Recalcati was incredible. Generational change, it was the turn of those born after (19) 74/75 onwards. We didn't have the talent of the previous national team, but we had the spirit of sacrifice and a huge heart." - Basile

They claimed an unexpected third place at FIBA EuroBasket 2003 in Sweden under coach Carlo Recalcati, upsetting France in their last game, 69-67, to reach the Olympics.

Once at the Athens Games, Basile played an integral part in a side that upset Lithuania in the Semi-Finals before falling to Argentina's golden generation in the title game.

In the 100-91 triumph over Lithuania, Basile had one of his finest games in basketball, making 7-of-11 shots from the arc and pouring in a game-high 31 points. The Ruvo di Puglia-born player made 22 3-pointers at those Games as Italy went on a stunning run to the Final.

In announcing his retirement, Basile spoke about those important tournaments in his career, including FIBA EuroBasket 1999.

"I remember it not just because of the great result but because 10 days before my daughter Alessia was born. I wasn't able to go to Puglia for the birth because my place in the 12 was not certain yet, and my will to take part in the European Championship was such that I feared I could lose my opportunity so I decided not to ask (Coach Bogdan Tanjevic permission to go).

"What happened with Recalcati was incredible. Generational change, it was the turn of those born after (19) 74/75 onwards. We didn't have the talent of the previous national team, but we had the spirit of sacrifice and a huge heart."

Basile and all of the players on those great Azzurri teams will be fondly remembered by everyone in international basketball and always loved in Italy.

"Don't ask me how it happened but we won bronze at the European Championship in Sweden and silver at the Olympics in Athens in 2004 and to this day, I don't know how we did it," he said. "Sport is strange."

Basile played for several clubs, including two long spells with Fortitudo Bologna (1999-2005) and Barcelona (2005-2011).

FIBA