Matteo Spagnolo Explained

Matteo Spagnolo
Position:Shooting guard / Point guard
Height M:1.93
Weight Kg:89
League:BBL
EuroLeague
Team:Alba Berlin
Number:3
Birth Date:2003 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Brindisi, Italy
Draft Year:2022
Draft Round:2
Draft Pick:50
Draft Team:Minnesota Timberwolves
Career Start:2017
Years1:2017–2018
Team1:Stella Azzurra
Years2:2018–2023
Team2:Real Madrid
Years3:2019–2021
Team3:Real Madrid B
Years4:2021–2022
Team4:Vanoli Cremona
Years5:2022–2023
Team5:Aquila Basket Trento
Years6:2023–present
Team6:Alba Berlin

Matteo Spagnolo (born 10 January 2003) is an Italian professional basketball player for Alba Berlin of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and the EuroLeague.

Early life and career

Spagnolo started playing basketball at the age of four and began his youth career with Aurora Brindisi. At age 12, he scored 78 points and 77 points in the semifinal and final of the regional under-14 championship, respectively.

At Adidas Next Generation Tournament Munich in January 2020, Spagnolo averaged 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, helping Real Madrid's under-18 team win the title.[1]

Professional career

Stella Azzurra (2017–2018)

At 13 years of age, Spagnolo moved to Rome to join Stella Azzurra.[2] He made his Serie B debut at age 14, becoming the youngest Italian to play at the senior level.[3]

Real Madrid (2018–2023)

On 2 May 2018, Spagnolo moved to Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, where he became the first Italian to join the club's youth academy.[4]

On 8 March 2020, Spagnolo made his senior debut for Real Madrid, playing 36 seconds in a Liga ACB loss to Zaragoza.[5]

Spagnolo mainly spent the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 campaigns with the club's reserve team.

Vanoli Cremona (2021–2022)

For the 2021–22 season Spagnolo was transferred on loan to Vanoli Cremona of the Italian Serie A.[6]

Aquila Basket Trento (2022–2023)

On 28 July 2022, Spagnolo was sent on loan to Italian club Aquila Basket Trento.[7] In 13 EuroCup matches, he averaged 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 26 minutes per contest.

Alba Berlin (2023–present)

On 9 August 2023, Spagnolo signed a three-year contract with German club Alba Berlin.[8]

NBA draft rights

Spagnolo was drafted with the 50th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 2023, he appeared in the NBA Summer League with the Timberwolves, averaging 12.5 points and 3 assists per game.

Career statistics

EuroLeague

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2023-24| style="text-align:left;"| Alba Berlin| 25 || 17 || 20.5 || .390 || .222 || .878 || 2.2 || 3.4 || .3 || || 7.3 || 6.1|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 25 || 17 || 20.5 || .390 || .222 || .878 || 2.2 || 3.4 || .3 || || 7.3 || 6.1

EuroCup

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2023-24| style="text-align:left;"| Trento| 13 || 7 || 26.4 || .410 || .278 || .829 || 3.6 || 4.3 || .9 || .1 || 11.8 || 12.3|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 13 || 7 || 26.4 || .410 || .278 || .829 || 3.6 || 4.3 || .9 || .1 || 11.8 || 12.3

Domestic leagues

YearTeamLeague
1 0.6 0.0
25 27.0 .440 .441 .861 2.9 3.5 2.6 .8 12.2
28 24.1 .433 .295 .776 3.8 3.0 .9 .1 12.5
16 20.6 .439 .333 .762 2.6 3.7 .7 8.7

National team career

Spagnolo averaged 16.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, three steals and 2.6 assists per game for Italy at the 2019 FIBA U16 European Championship in Udine. He was named to the All-Star Five after helping his team earn the bronze medal.[9] On 20 February 2020, at age 17, Spagnolo made his senior debut for Italy, scoring three points in a win over Russia at the EuroBasket qualification stage. He became the third-youngest player to play for Italy's senior team.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 29 January 2020 . Matteo Spagnolo, de brillar con el filial del Real Madrid a la Selección de Italia . . Spanish . 5 June 2020.
  2. Web site: Tundo . Andrea . Matteo Spagnolo, dal campetto del quartiere alla Nazionale a 17 anni: storia della promessa del basket che studia da 'big' nel Real Madrid . . 5 June 2020 . Italian . 4 February 2020.
  3. Web site: Nigro . Giuseppe . Basket, baby Spagnolo futuro galactico, al Real a 14 anni: "È tutto fantastico" . . 5 June 2020 . Italian . 4 May 2018.
  4. Web site: Lo stellino Matteo Spagnolo al Real Madrid: primo italiano della storia ad entrare nella Cantera dei "blancos" . . 5 June 2020 . Italian . 2 May 2018.
  5. Web site: Spagnolo becomes the 14th academy graduate to make his debut under Laso . . 5 June 2020 . 8 March 2020.
  6. Web site: Matteo Spagnolo è un giocatore della Vanoli Basket . vanolibasket.com . 24 July 2021 . Italian .
  7. News: Aquila Basket Trento announces signing of Timberwolves draftee Matteo Spagnolo . July 28, 2022 . Sportando. 28 July 2022 . Carchia . Emiliano .
  8. Web site: Milanti . Cesare . Matteo Spagnolo signs with ALBA Berlin for three years . August 9, 2023 . Eurohoops . August 10, 2023.
  9. Web site: MVP Dominguez headlines All-Star Five in Udine . . 5 June 2020 . 17 August 2019.
  10. Web site: Basket: il brindisini Matteo Spagnolo debutta in nazionale "Matteo Spagnolo il "fenomeno": debutto in azzurro a soli 17 anni . BrindisiReport . 5 June 2020 . Italian . 21 February 2020.