Marco Belinelli facts for kids
Belinelli in 2021
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| No. 3 – Virtus Bologna | |
|---|---|
| Shooting guard / Small forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 25 March 1986 San Giovanni in Persiceto, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Listed height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5.17 in) |
| Listed weight | 100 kg (220 lb) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18th overall |
| Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |
| Pro career | 2002–present |
| League | LBA EuroLeague |
| Career history | |
| 2002–2003 | Virtus Bologna |
| 2003–2007 | Fortitudo Bologna |
| 2007–2009 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2009–2010 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2010–2012 | New Orleans Hornets |
| 2012–2013 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2013–2015 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2015–2016 | Sacramento Kings |
| 2016–2017 | Charlotte Hornets |
| 2017–2018 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2018 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2018–2020 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2020–present | Virtus Bologna |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Stats at NBA.com | |
Marco Stefano Belinelli (born March 25, 1986) is a famous Italian professional basketball player. He is currently the team captain for Virtus Bologna, a team in Italy's top league, the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA), and also plays in the EuroLeague. Marco was chosen as the 18th pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors.
In 2014, he made history by winning the NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs. He was the first Italian player ever to achieve this! He also won the exciting Three-Point Contest during the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend. Marco has played for the Italian national team in many big tournaments, including the FIBA EuroBasket and the FIBA World Championship.
Contents
Marco Belinelli's Basketball Journey
Playing in Italy (2002–2007)
Marco Belinelli started his professional career in Italy. He played for two big teams in Bologna: Virtus Bologna and Fortitudo Bologna. These teams play in Italy's top league, the Serie A, and also in the EuroLeague, which is a major European competition.
In 2004, his team, Fortitudo, reached the EuroLeague Finals but lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv. The next year, in 2005, Marco helped Fortitudo win the Serie A title, which was a big achievement!
Playing in the NBA (2007–2020)
Golden State Warriors (2007–2009)
After being picked by the Golden State Warriors in the 2007 NBA draft, Marco showed his skills right away. In his first NBA Summer League game, he scored an amazing 37 points! This was one of the highest scores ever in the Vegas Summer League. He played well for the Warriors, even scoring 27 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks in 2008.
Toronto Raptors (2009–2010)
In 2009, Marco was traded to the Toronto Raptors. Here, he joined his Italian national team friend, Andrea Bargnani. He even started his first NBA game for the Raptors in February 2010.
New Orleans Hornets (2010–2012)
Marco then moved to the New Orleans Hornets in 2010. He played two seasons with the Hornets, continuing to develop his game.
Chicago Bulls (2012–2013)
In 2012, Marco signed with the Chicago Bulls. While playing for the Bulls, he became known as a "clutch player." This means he was great at making important shots when the game was on the line! He hit game-winning shots against the Celtics and Nets, and a crucial three-pointer against the Utah Jazz. In the 2013 NBA Playoffs, he scored 24 points in a big Game 7 win against the Brooklyn Nets.
San Antonio Spurs (2013–2015)
Marco joined the San Antonio Spurs in 2013. This was a very successful time for him! On January 2, 2014, he scored a career-high 32 points against the New York Knicks.
He also won the NBA Three-Point Contest at the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend. He beat Bradley Beal in a thrilling tiebreaker, sinking six shots in a row! In his first season with the Spurs, Marco had his best shooting percentages for field goals, three-pointers, and free throws.
The biggest highlight was winning the 2014 NBA Finals with the Spurs. They defeated the Miami Heat, who were champions for two years in a row. Marco became the first Italian player to ever win an NBA championship!
Kings, Hornets, Hawks and 76ers (2015–2018)
After his time with the Spurs, Marco played for several other NBA teams. In 2015, he signed with the Sacramento Kings, where he scored a season-high 28 points.
He was then traded to the Charlotte Hornets in 2016, and later to the Atlanta Hawks in 2017.
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In February 2018, Marco signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. He continued to show his clutch skills, making a two-point shot to send a playoff game against the Boston Celtics into overtime.
Second time with the Spurs (2018–2020)
In 2018, Marco returned to the San Antonio Spurs for a second time. He played two more seasons with the team where he won his NBA championship.
Return to Virtus Bologna (2020–Present)
In November 2020, Marco left the NBA and returned to Italy, signing a three-year deal with his first professional team, Virtus Bologna. In 2021, Virtus Bologna won its 16th national title, the LBA championship, which was their first in 20 years!
In 2022, Marco helped Virtus Bologna win the EuroCup, a major European competition. This win also meant the team qualified for the EuroLeague after 14 years! They continued their success by winning the Italian Basketball Supercup in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Marco renewed his contract with Virtus Bologna in 2023, planning to play with them until 2025.
Playing for Italy's National Team
Marco Belinelli first played for the Italian national team in the 2006 FIBA World Championship. In that tournament, he scored 25 points against the powerful United States national team, even making a cool dunk over Carmelo Anthony! He was the top scorer for his team in that championship.
He has continued to represent Italy in many international tournaments, including several FIBA EuroBasket competitions, where he consistently scored a lot of points for his country.
See also
- List of European basketball players in the United States
- List of Italian NBA players
- Golden State Warriors draft history
- List of youngest EuroLeague players
