Nico Mannion facts for kids
Mannion with Arizona in 2020
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| No. 1 – [[Olimpia Milano|Olimpia Milano]] | |
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| Point guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 14, 2001 Siena, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian / American |
| High school | Pinnacle (Phoenix, Arizona) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Arizona (2019–2020) |
| NBA Draft | 2020 / Round: 2 / Pick: 48th overall |
| Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |
| Pro career | 2020–present |
| League | Lega Basket Serie A EuroLeague |
| Career history | |
| 2020–2021 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2020–2021 | → Santa Cruz Warriors |
| 2021–2023 | Virtus Bologna |
| 2023 | Baskonia |
| 2023–2024 | Varese |
| 2024–present | Olimpia Milano |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Niccolò "Nico" Mannion, born on March 14, 2001, is a talented Italian-American professional basketball player. He currently plays as a point guard for Olimpia Milano in Italy's top league, the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA), and also in the EuroLeague. Before turning pro, he played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats.
Nico went to Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona. He was considered one of the best point guards in his class. Even though he mostly grew up in the United States, Nico plays for his birth country, Italy, in international basketball games.
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Nico Mannion's Early Life
Nico Mannion was born in Siena, Tuscany, Italy. His father, Pace Mannion, was a former NBA player. His mother, Gaia Bianchi, is Italian. Nico spent his early childhood in Italy. Later, his family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, and then settled in Phoenix, Arizona.
High School Basketball Journey
Nico started playing basketball for Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona as a freshman. He quickly became a star player.
Freshman Year Success
In his first year, Nico played in all 28 games. He averaged 20.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. He helped Pinnacle High School achieve a 22–6 record. Nico was named to the MaxPreps first team All-American. He also made the Arizona Republic Class 6A first team All-State.
Sophomore Year Highlights
Nico was named to the USA Today All-USA Arizona preseason team. He missed his first four games due to a broken left hand. On February 28, 2018, Nico scored 21 points. This helped Pinnacle win the Class 6A state championship 76–60. He finished the season averaging 23.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. Pinnacle ended with a 24–7 record. Nico was recognized as the Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year.
Junior Year Achievements
Nico took online summer classes to graduate early. On December 1, he scored 37 points, including a game-winning three-pointer. This led to an 82–80 win over Shadow Mountain High School. They had won 73 straight games against Arizona teams. Five days later, Nico had 33 points and 12 assists in a nationally televised game. On December 30, he scored 45 points in a championship game.
On February 2, 2019, Nico scored 57 points, including the game-winning shot. On February 27, he led Pinnacle to another Class 6A state title. He scored 56 points, had eight rebounds, and six assists in an 83–64 win. By the end of the season, Nico was averaging 43.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. He won the Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year award again. He also played in the McDonald's All-American Game.
Choosing a College Team
Nico was a highly sought-after player. He was considered a top prospect by major recruiting services. He received offers from many big college programs. On September 14, 2018, he decided to play for Arizona.
College Basketball Career
Nico Mannion quickly made an impact in college. He earned preseason honors for the All-Pac-12 Conference.
Freshman Season at Arizona
In his second college game on November 6, 2019, Nico scored 23 points. He also had nine assists and four rebounds in a 90–69 win. On November 28, Nico had 16 points and 11 assists. He made a game-winning layup with four seconds left. This helped Arizona win 93–91. He scored a season-high 24 points in another game. Nico led his team to win the Wooden Legacy tournament. He was named the tournament's most valuable player (MVP).
Nico averaged 14.0 points and 5.3 assists per game as a freshman. After this successful season, he decided to enter the 2020 NBA draft.
Professional Basketball Journey
Nico Mannion began his professional career in the NBA.
Playing for the Golden State Warriors (2020–2021)
The Golden State Warriors picked Nico as the 48th overall player in the 2020 NBA draft. He played one season with the Warriors. After playing for the Italian national basketball team in the 2020 Summer Olympics, he decided to play in Italy.
Time with Virtus Bologna (2021–2023)
On August 10, 2021, Nico signed a two-year contract with Virtus Bologna, an Italian club. This team wanted to win the EuroCup and join the EuroLeague. On May 11, 2022, Virtus Bologna defeated Bursaspor Basketbol 80–67. This win earned them their first EuroCup title. It also qualified them for the EuroLeague after 14 years. However, they lost in the Italian national finals to Olimpia Milano.
On September 29, 2022, Virtus Bologna won their third Supercup. They defeated Banco di Sardegna Sassari 72–69. This was their second Supercup win in a row. Despite this, Virtus finished 14th in the EuroLeague season and missed the playoffs. They also lost in the Italian Basketball Cup final. In June 2023, Virtus lost to Olimpia Milan in the national finals.
Short Stay at Saski Baskonia (2023)
On June 26, 2023, Nico signed a two-year contract with Saski Baskonia, a Spanish club. They play in the Liga ACB and the Euroleague. In twelve league games, Nico averaged 2.0 points and 2.0 assists. On December 21, Nico and Baskonia agreed to end his contract.
Playing for Pallacanestro Varese (2023-2024)
On December 21, 2023, Nico signed a contract with Pallacanestro Varese, another Italian club in the Lega Basket Serie A. He played there until late 2024.
Joining Olimpia Milano (2024-present)
On November 4, 2024, Nico signed a contract with Olimpia Milano. He is currently playing for this team.
Representing Italy in Basketball
Nico Mannion has dual citizenship for the United States and Italy. His father is American, and his mother is Italian.
Playing for Italy's Youth Team
In 2017, Nico trained with the United States national under-16 team. He was a finalist for their roster. After not making that team, the Italian Basketball Federation contacted him. He joined the Italian national under-16 team. He played in the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship.
Nico debuted on August 11, 2017, scoring 15 points and seven assists. Two days later, he had an amazing game with 42 points, five rebounds, and six steals. Throughout seven games, Nico averaged 19.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 steals. He led Italy to a ninth-place finish in the tournament.
Playing for Italy's Senior Team
Nico first played for the senior Italian national team in July 2018. He was part of the qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. In his only appearance, he scored nine points in 29 minutes. At age 17, he became the fourth-youngest player in the team's history.
Nico Mannion's Family Life
Nico's father, Pace Mannion, was a professional basketball player. He played for six NBA teams in the 1980s. He also played professionally in Italy until 2002. Nico's mother, Gaia Bianchi, was a volleyball player. She played for the Italian national volleyball team. In high school, Nico's teammate was Spencer Rattler, who is now a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. They helped Pinnacle High School win a state championship together.
See also
In Spanish: Nico Mannion para niños
