By Antonis Stroggylakis / info@eurohoops.net
Nicolas Laprovittola confirmed that he will be staying with Real Madrid for the second year of the contract he signed with the Spanish powerhouse in 2019.
“I’m happy because I’m not going to change [teams] in the middle of a contract,” Laprovittola said in an interview with 3X3 Radio. “I’m with Real Madrid, which is being with the most important club in the world. Having a two-year contract that I signed last year and being able to complete it, is something that makes me happy. I like it. And you have to be prepared for what is coming, a second year on the same team, in the same city and competing in EuroLeague. I think everything that’s coming will be very good.”
Laprovittola had been in talks with Panathinaikos and had a verbal commitment with the club. Real would be willing to release the player so that he could join Panathinaikos, only if Facu Campazzo remained in Madrid. With Campazzo’s NBA move being all but certain, Real is keeping Laprovittola on board.
“Staying with Real Madrid is for the best, it’s what I wanted,” Laprovittola added.
Laprovittola joined Real after winning 2019 ACB MVP with Joventut Badalona. His 2019-2020 performance wasn’t (5.0 points, 3.0 assists in 13:31 minutes in EuroLeague, 6.0 points, 2.9 assists in 15:05 minutes in ACB), he expects next season to be different.
“If they didn’t want me, I wouldn’t have thought about staying or if they didn’t want me, I wouldn’t fulfill the second year of my contract. I’m here in Madrid because they love me, because they believe that this second year is going to get better. It’s going to get better, that’s my answer.”