By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Olimpia Milano forward Nicolo Melli has become the player with the most appearances in EuroLeague, now standing at 159 games. He made his baby steps in the competition with the Red Shoes in 2010 at 19 years of age and has now come full circle to being the team captain since his return to the club in 2021 after several other stations.
“I don’t know if it’s more important in Milan, I don’t want to belittle anyone,” Melli said in an interview for Milano’s official website. “As far as I’m concerned, it gives me a sense of responsibility both towards myself, for how I have to behave, and towards my teammates, the club, the fans. I try to put my face on the line, as much as I can, to express myself, to act as a glue both within the locker room and towards the coach, the club. If there is something that I think makes sense, I become its ambassador, I try to act as a filter. For me, it is a great honor. It also means I’m getting older. But I think it’s a beautiful thing that I hope to be worthy of.”
After establishing himself as a prominent EuroLeague player with Brose Bamberg and Fenerbahce Beko, Melli made the jump to the NBA to join the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019. He also had a short stint with the Dallas Mavericks before his comeback to Milan.
“Never playing, you’re left with this desire for competitiveness that you can’t express, no matter how much you train,” Milano said on his lack of playing time in the NBA. “In Europe perhaps we exaggerate because every game is seen as having to be won at all costs, while in the NBA it is almost the opposite. I missed this pathos, this daily experience. There are positive things about experiencing the season that way, but what I missed was playing. If I had played, I would have found a way to express my competitive spirit.”
Melli is 32 and sees himself playing for at least five more years. “I would like to play at least until 2028, so I have another Olympic cycle after this year to handle,” he said. “I also talked about it with Gigi: the important thing is to remain at a high level, do things well, be presentable. I think I still am. The only thing is that, when they handed me the first commemorative ball after a milestone, perhaps it was the rebounds record, I didn’t write above what it was for. Instead, I have to do it because there are starting to be a lot of them. They will never be as many as Kyle Hines has in his cellar or warehouse, but I have to start writing down what they are for otherwise I’ll get confused.”