By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
At 38, Marco Belinelli earned a prestigious individual award, being named most valuable player of the 2023-24 season in Italy’s LBA UnipolSai.
Highlighting the 2024 LBA Awards presented by UnipolSai, the experienced forward prevailed with 14.7% of total points in a vote between teams, media, and fans, LBA announced on Wednesday. Topping the list, he will receive the Dino Meneghin Trophy. The captain of Virtus Segafredo Bologna tallied 13.9 points, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 rebounds per contest over 28 appearances in the Regular Season of Italy’s top-flight division.
Sitting second behind the former NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, Rayjon Tucker of Umana Reyer Venice gathered 11.4% of the votes. Virtus Bologna teammate Tornike Shengelia got 10.3%. Payton Willis of Estra Pistoia was fourth, Miro Bilan of Germani Brescia fifth, Langston Galloway of UnaHotels Reggio Emilia sixth, Nico Mannion of Openjobmetis Varese seventh, Charlie Moore of Pistoia eighth, Shavon Shields of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan ninth, and Nicolo Melli of Milan tenth.
Belinelli was also part of the Dream Team of the Year alongside Tucker, Shengelia, Willis, and Bilan. In addition, he ranked second behind Mannion on the list of best Italian players of the year.
Elsewhere, Reggio Emilia’s Mouhamed Faye was named best under-22 player of the year, John Petrucelli of Brescia was the best defensive player, and Brescia’s C.J. Massinburg won both the sixth player and most improved player of the year distinctions. Nicola Brienza of Pistoia was named coach of the year.