Giovanni Pini
{{short description|Italian basketball player (born 1992)}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Giovanni Pini
| image = 1giovannipini2015.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Pini with Reggio Emilia in 2015
| number = 25
| position = Power forward / center
| height_m = 2.03
| weight_kg = 100
| team = Scafati Basket
| league = LBA
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|7|25}}
| birth_place = Carpi, Italy
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Italian
| draft_year = 2014
| career_start = 2010
| career_end =
| years1 = 2010–2015
| team1 = Pallacanestro Reggiana
| years2 = 2012–2013
| team2 = →Biancoblù Bologna
| years3 = 2015–2016
| team3 = Sidigas Avellino
| years4 = 2016–2017
| team4 = Scaligera Verona
| years5 = 2017–2019
| team5 = Fortitudo Bologna
| years6 = 2019–2020
| team6 = Virtus Roma
| years7 = 2020–2022
| team7 = Scaligera Basket
| years8 = 2022–2023
| team8 = Pallacanestro Cantù
| years9 = 2023
| team9 = Scaligera Basket
| years10 = 2023
| team10 = Pallacanestro Cantù
| years11 = 2023–present
| team11 = Scafati Basket
| highlights =
- EuroChallenge winner (2014)
}}
Giovanni Pini (born 25 July 1992) is an Italian professional basketball player for Scafati Basket of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He plays the power forward and center positions.
Professional career
The Carpi native played for local side Nazareno Basket Carpi before joining Pallacanestro Reggiana for the 2005-06 season. He then spent two seasons with the Under-16s and U-18s, then another two with the U-17s and U-19s, staying with the latter from thereon apart from two games on loan at Stella Azzurra Roma for the 2009 International Junior Tournament.{{cite web |url=http://www.pallacanestroreggiana.it/1241/Primo-contratto-professionistico-per-Giovanni-Pini |title=Primo contratto professionistico per Giovanni Pini |author= |date=4 March 2011 |website=PallacanestroReggiana.it |access-date=11 September 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=First professional contract for Giovanni Pini}}
Pini made his professional debut on 12 December 2010 against Casale Monferrato (for one rebound and missed shot apiece), making a handful more appearances in the second division later that season (also playing with U-19s) for averages of 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game.{{cite web |url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gameCent/p/leagueid/RUS2/ot/1/pid/6076157/season/2011/tid/6000009/tidstat//playerView.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310190459/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gameCent/p/leagueid/RUS2/ot/1/pid/6076157/season/2011/tid/6000009/tidstat//playerView.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 10, 2016 |title=Giovanni Pini - Season 2010/2011 |author= |website=FIBA.com |access-date=11 September 2015}}
He signed his first professional contract with Pallacanestro Reggiana in March 2011, linking him with the club until 2015.
The 2011-12 season saw him behind an array of players in the rotation despite playing both center and power forward positions (the former with more success),{{cite web |url=http://gazzettadireggio.gelocal.it/sport/2012/04/30/news/giovane-lungo-sempre-positivo-ma-chiuso-dai-veterani-1.4446893 |title=Giovane lungo sempre positivo ma "chiuso" dai veterani |author= |date=30 April 2012 |website=GazzettadiReggio.it |access-date=11 September 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Young forward always optimistic but kept out by the veterans }} finishing the season with 2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.6 minutes on average.{{cite web |url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gameCent/p/leagueid/RUS2/ot/1/pid/6076157/season/2012/tid/6000009/tidstat//playerView.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304211333/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gameCent/p/leagueid/RUS2/ot/1/pid/6076157/season/2012/tid/6000009/tidstat//playerView.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |title=Giovanni Pini - Season 2011/2012 |author= |website=FIBA.com |access-date=11 September 2015}}
Reggio Emilia were promoted to the first division Serie A at the end of the season but Pini stayed in LegaDue, moving on loan to Biancoblù Bologna for 2012-13.{{cite web |url=http://www.pallacanestroreggiana.it/pagina.php?id=569 |title=Pini in prestito alla Biancoblù Basket Bologna (Legadue) |author= |date=21 August 2012 |website=PallacanestroReggiana.it |access-date=11 September 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Pini loaned to Biancoblù Basket Bologna (Legadue)}}
Positioned as a center he enjoyed more game time with Bologna,{{cite web |url=http://gazzettadireggio.gelocal.it/sport/2012/10/10/news/pini-e-stato-fra-i-trascinatori-della-effe-biancoblu-a-casale-1.5841687 |title=Pini è stato fra i trascinatori della Effe Biancoblù a Casale |author= |date=10 October 2012 |website=GazzettadiReggio.it |access-date=11 September 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Pini was amongst the leaders of the Eff Biancoblù at Casale}} playing 12.4 minutes on average for 4.5 points and 2.4 rebounds despite struggling with plantar fasciitis.{{cite web |url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gameCent/p/leagueid/RUS2/ot/1/pid/6076157/season/2013/tid/6000009/tidstat//playerView.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311082919/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gameCent/p/leagueid/RUS2/ot/1/pid/6076157/season/2013/tid/6000009/tidstat//playerView.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |title=Giovanni Pini - Season 2012/2013 |author= |website=FIBA.com |access-date=11 September 2015}}
Returning to Reggio Emilia the next season, he grappled a few minutes (7.7 per game) in the Serie A for 2 points and 1.7 rebounds, having more impact in the Italian Cup and also having a smaller part in the club's run to the European third-tier EuroChallenge title.{{cite web |url=http://gazzettadireggio.gelocal.it/sport/2014/09/06/news/giovanni-pini-forza-e-carattere-1.9882421 |title=Giovanni Pini, forza e carattere |author= |date=6 September 2014 |website=GazzettadiReggio.it |access-date=11 September 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Giovanni Pini, strength and character}}
His contract extended until 2016, Pini missed the start of the season with a muscle injury, taking advantage on his return of Darjuš Lavrinovič's injury (and the departure of his brother Kšyštof) to earn accrued playing time,{{cite web |url=http://gazzettadireggio.gelocal.it/sport/2015/01/02/news/pini-deciso-a-giocarmi-al-meglio-questa-grande-opportunita-1.10599721?refresh_ce |title=Pini: "Deciso a giocarmi al meglio questa grande opportunità" |last=Arati |first=Adriano |date=2 January 2015 |website=GazzettadiReggio.it |access-date=11 September 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Pini: “I'm ready to make the most of this big opportunity”}} ending the regular season with 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game.
He was mostly a spectator during Reggio Emilia's playoffs run, though he decisively scored 8 points in 9 minutes during game 6 of the finals series against Banco di Sardegna Sassari to start a comeback that took the team to within a possession of a championship victory, through they ultimately lost the game and the series.{{cite web |url=http://gazzettadireggio.gelocal.it/sport/2015/06/26/news/la-squadra-falcidiata-trova-super-pini-e-cervi-1.11684611?refresh_ce |title=La squadra falcidiata trova super Pini e Cervi |last=Arati |first=Adriano |date=26 June 2015 |website=GazzettadiReggio.it |access-date=11 September 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=An [injury]-reaped team finds super Pini and Cervi}}
His contract with Pallacanestro Reggiana was rescinded by the club in August 2015,{{cite web |url=http://gazzettadireggio.gelocal.it/sport/2015/08/20/news/un-gesto-generoso-del-club-liberarmi-dal-contratto-1.11963922?refresh_ce |title=Pini: "Un gesto generoso del club liberarmi dal contratto" |author= |date=20 August 2015 |website=GazzettadiReggio.it |access-date=11 September 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Pini, “A generous gesture by the club to release me from the contract}} he then joined his teammate Riccardo Cervi at Sidigas Avellino by signing with them the same month.{{cite web |url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/basket/2015/08/20-3321406/avellino_raddoppia_dopo_cervi_ecco_pini/?cookieAccept |title=Avellino raddoppia: dopo Cervi ecco Pini |author= |date=20 August 2015 |website=CorrieredelloSport.it |access-date=11 September 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Avellino does a double: after Cervi here's Pini}}
On July 23, 2019, he has signed with Virtus Roma of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/virtus-roma-signs-giovanni-pini/|title=Virtus Roma signs Giovanni Pini|date=July 23, 2019|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=August 23, 2019}}
International career
Pini played with the Italy national under-16 side at the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, posting 10.5 points and 8.2 rebounds in around 20 minutes per game as the Italians finished thirteenth.{{cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/71681/pid2//sid/5961/tid/307/tid2//_/2008_U16_European_Championship_Men_DIVISION_A/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206192243/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/71681/pid2//sid/5961/tid/307/tid2//_/2008_U16_European_Championship_Men_DIVISION_A/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 2015 |title=Italy #14 – Giovanni Pini |author= |website=FIBA.com |access-date=11 September 2015}}
With the under-18s, he played sparingly at the 2009 European Championship, before posting 6.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1 block per game in the 2010 edition as Italy finished twelfth.{{cite web |url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/71681/pid2//sid/7323/tid/307/tid2//_/2010_U18_European_Championship_Men_DIVISION_A/index.html |title=Italy #14 – Giovanni Pini |author= |website=FIBA.com |access-date=11 September 2015}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He played a few games for the under-20 side but was not selected for any tournaments.
He was called up to an extended training camp of the senior Italy team in April 2014 but had to leave because of injury.{{cite web |url=http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_uRO,1l8jJ4Ed0LJpkm4Gu0.articleMode_on.html |title=Italy mini training camp boosts youth |author= |date=11 April 2014 |website=FIBAEurope.com |access-date=11 September 2015}}
That same year he took part in the summer tour of the Italy B team in China, though he was rarely used.{{cite web |url=http://www.fip.it/naz_giocatori.asp?IDGiocatore=1552&Tipo=M&Naz=SM |title=Nazionale sperimentale maschile – Giovanni Pini |author= |website=FIP.it |access-date=11 September 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=National men's experimental [team] – Giovanni Pini}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://web.legabasket.it/player/PIN-GIO-92/pini_giovanni Serie A profile] {{in lang|it}} Retrieved 11 September 2015
- [http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Giovanni-Pini/Summary/26820 RealGM profile] Retrieved 11 September 2015
{{Scafati Basket current roster}}
{{Pallacanestro Reggiana 2013–14 EuroChallenge champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pini, Giovanni}}
Category:Italian men's basketball players
Category:Lega Basket Serie A players
Category:Pallacanestro Reggiana players
Category:S.S. Felice Scandone players
Category:Scafati Basket players