Basketball in Italy, just like in the rest of Europe, takes a backseat to soccer. However, that hasn’t stopped athletes from choosing the paint over the field and reaching its peak.

These Italian NBA players crossed the vast ocean to prove that Italian’s school of basketball can also compete at the highest level and walk home with a ring. Their journey mirrors many global players who made it to the NBA, showing that talent can rise from anywhere. They might not have the numbers, but the quality is there. We’ve all seen it night after night.

So, let’s learn a bit more about these champions. Here’s our ranking of the 5 greatest Italian players in the league’s history.

Marco Belinelli

NBA Ranking: #528

Despite the obvious quality of Italian ballers, only one has got to go home with an NBA ring. That lucky Italian is Marco Belinelli, who also remains the most accomplished player to come from the Nation.

Before enjoying a 13-year long career in the league, he went pro playing in the Italian Serie A for Virtus Bologna and Fortitudo Bologna. After three years in Italy, he found his way into the U.S. and declared for the 2007 NBA draft. Not many people knew Belinelli and even fewer had watched him hoop, but he was still able to make it into the NBA. The Golden State Warriors selected him 18th in the first round of the draft. The question was; “does an Italian have what it takes to dominate an NBA paint?”

Belinelli answered that question in his first NBA Summer League game where he dropped 37 points on the New Orleans Hornets. In 2013, after bouncing from team to team, he joined the San Antonio Spurs. A year after, he dropped 32 points against the Knicks in his best performance ever in the NBA. That was the start of a legendary season that ended with him winning the NBA championship — the first and only Italian to do so. In his 860 games played in the league, he put down 8,370 points, 1,429 assists, and 1,769 rebounds.

Achievements/Resumé

  • 1× NBA Champion (2014).
  • 1× NBA Three-Point Contest Champion (2014).
  • 1× EuroCup Champion (2022).
  • 3× Lega Serie A Champion.

Danilo Gallinari

NBA Ranking: #315

In the time when Marco Belinelli had the entire league on notice, he wasn’t the only Italian doing so. Danilo Gallinari, dubbed Gallo, came into the league with even higher expectations than Belinelli, but he lived up to them.

The 6’10” forward joined the NBA roster after being selected by the New York Knicks. Before the NBA world saw Gallo on the court, he already had his own sneakers made by Reebok, branded ‘The Rooster.’ That’s how much expectations a young Gallo had on his shoulders.

Gallo enjoyed three great seasons before moving to Denver. The world saw the best version of Gallo playing for the Nuggets. Night after night, he was dropping elite numbers. No one can forget that 47-point blizzard against the Mavericks. Over 16 years in the NBA, Gallo was averaging 14.9 points per game until his retirement in 2024. He remains the highest-scoring Italian NBA player.

It’s obvious why he’s one of the greatest Italian players in the NBA ever.

Achievements/Resumé

  • 1× Italian League MVP (2008).
  • 1× EuroLeague Rising Star (2008).
  • 2× Italian League Best Youth Player (2007, 2008).

Andre Bargnani

NBA Ranking: #584

Before Marco Belinelli and Danilo Gallinari became top draft picks, one man had already broken down that barrier. Do you remember Andrea Bargnani? Anyone who lived through the time should. He was the first overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft, a record-breaking year for international ballers.

As a prospect, many saw a lot of Dirk Nowitzki in young Bargnani because of his movements and shooting ability. So, when he entered the NBA draft and was selected first overall by the Raptors, it came as no surprise. He’s the first European player to be drafted first overall in the draft. Like any other rookie, Bargnani took some time to get going. However, when he actually got going, the Raptors was clearly a different side. Thanks to the Italian, Toronto won their first Division title and reached their first playoff in five years. During that playoff run, Bargnani put down 11 points and 4 rebounds per game.

In the 2010-11 season, he was the main guy for Toronto. He had a 41-point game in that season and was averaging 21 points per game. Bargnani’s legendary draft pick opened doors for other NBA players from Italy.

Achievements/Resumé

  • 1× NBA All-Rookie First Team (2007).
  • 1× EuroLeague Rising Star (2006).
  • 1× Italian League Champion (2006).
  • 2× Italian Cup Winner (2004, 2005).

Dino Meneghin

NBA Ranking: N/A

While his time in the NBA was quite brief, no list of Italian NBA greats is complete without Dino Meneghin. He’s globally recognized as the greatest Italian hooper of all time everywhere else except in the NBA.

After many years dominating the European League, it was time for the U.S. to learn more about this big man. So, 1970, the Hawks selected Meneghin with the late-round pick in the NBA draft. His name was on the NBA roster, but unfortunately, he never got to play on an NBA court. When he left the NBA, Meneghin went right back to running things in Europe.

One of his greatest records of his jaw-dropping career is his number of consecutive Finals appearances in the FIBA European Champions Cup. Meneghin featured in 10 back-to-back finals with Pallacanestro Varese, winning 5. So, his time in the NBA might not have been memorable, but he bridged the gap between European and American basketball.

Achievements/Resumé

  • Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2003).
  • Record 7-time EuroLeague champion as a player.
  • Achieved the European “Triple Crown” in 1990.

Simone Fontecchio

NBA Ranking:  #1819

The past of Italian ballers in the NBA is as decorated and inspiring as they come. So, it’s normal to look to the future of Italian players in the league with a lot of hope. As one of the standout European basketball talents, Simone Fontecchio is keeping that hope alive.

Fontecchio took a little journey across Europe before making it into the NBA. In 2022, Utah saw a lot of potential in the Italian, so they signed him to a two-year contract. The fans didn’t rally behind him until he made that game-winning dunk against the Warriors. After that game, Fontecchio dropped a career-high 24 points against Portland. Not long after that game, he tied that record, putting down another 24 points against Dallas.

After two years wearing the Jazz colors, he was traded to the Pistons. However, his time in Detroit wasn’t anything like he’d expected. He had surgery on his left big toe and had to be sidelined for the majority of the season. His career is just getting started, but the talent is there and it’s only a matter of time before it begins to show.

Achievements/Resumé

  • 1× Italian Cup Winner (2016).
  • 3× Italian Super Cup Winner (2016, 2017, 2018).
  • 1× LBA All-Star (2014).

Conclusion

If the conversation is about the impact of international players in the NBA, then you just can’t look past what Italian NBA players have managed to achieve. Marco Belinelli might be the only Italian to walk home with the ultimate prize, but every other name on this list has proudly worn the Italian colors.

FAQs

Which Italian NBA players are top three-point shooters?

The NBA has had some lethal Italian three-point shooters, but Marco Belinelli has to be the best among them. He also won the 2014 Three-Point Contest.

Who are the Italian NBA players known for defense?

While Italy have had some prolific shooters, with Marco Belinelli and Danilo Gallinari coming to mind, the primary Italian NBA player known for elite defense and disruption is Nicolò Melli.