By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Italy won’t be playing at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, as Gianmarco Pozzecco’s team came up short in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico to the hosts in the Semi-Finals. However, there might be a reinforcement coming for the Azzurri.
The president of the Italian Basketball Federation revealed the plan behind trying to bounce back in the near future. “We’re working on making Italian the best one: Donte DiVincenzo”, Gianni Petrucci said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport.
Donte DiVincenzo already expressed his wish of getting called by the Italian national team. “Logistically and how everything plays out, I don’t know if it’s possible. But if everything works out perfectly, I would love to”, he previously stated in an interview with The New York Post.
The 27-year-old guard is coming off an exciting season in the NBA with the New York Knicks, averaging 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, helping the team get all the way to the NBA Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, where they lost to the Indiana Pacers.
After Mikal Bridges joined the side from the Brooklyn Nets, the Villanova Wildcats band will be reunited at the Madison Square Garden, considering the presence within the team of Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson too.
Italy already tried to naturalize Paolo Banchero after he obtained an Italian passport. However, the Orlando Magic star decided to represent the United States at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images