Matteo Spagnolo

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Matteo Spagnolo

| image = 2023-12-09 Syntainics MBC gegen ALBA Berlin (BBL-Pokal, Viertelfinale) by Sandro Halank–034.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Spagnolo with Alba Berlin in December 2023

| position = Shooting guard / Point guard

| height_m = 1.93

| weight_kg = 89

| league = BBL
EuroLeague

| team = Alba Berlin

| number = 3

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2003|1|10}}

| birth_place = Brindisi, Italy

| draft_year = 2022

| draft_round = 2

| draft_pick = 50

| draft_team = Minnesota Timberwolves

| career_start = 2017

| career_end =

| 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

| highlights =

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}}

{{MedalCountry|{{bk|ITA}}}}

}}

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.{{cite web |date=29 January 2020 |title=Matteo Spagnolo, de brillar con el filial del Real Madrid a la Selección de Italia |url=https://www.marca.com/baloncesto/basketfeb/2020/01/29/5e318834ca47410d768b4585.html |website=Marca |language=Spanish |accessdate=5 June 2020}}

Professional career

= Stella Azzurra (2017–2018) =

At 13 years of age, Spagnolo moved to Rome to join Stella Azzurra.{{cite web |last1=Tundo |first1=Andrea |title=Matteo Spagnolo, dal campetto del quartiere alla Nazionale a 17 anni: storia della promessa del basket che studia da 'big' nel Real Madrid |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2020/02/04/matteo-spagnolo-dal-campetto-del-quartiere-alla-nazionale-a-17-anni-storia-della-promessa-del-basket-che-studia-da-big-nel-real-madrid/5694422/ |website=Il Fatto Quotidiano |accessdate=5 June 2020 |language=Italian |date=4 February 2020}} He made his Serie B debut at age 14, becoming the youngest Italian to play at the senior level.{{cite web |last1=Nigro |first1=Giuseppe |title=Basket, baby Spagnolo futuro galactico, al Real a 14 anni: "È tutto fantastico" |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Basket/04-05-2018/basket-baby-spagnolo-futuro-galactico-real-14-anni-tutto-fantastico-2601061852207.shtml |website=La Gazzetta dello Sport |accessdate=5 June 2020 |language=Italian |date=4 May 2018}}

= 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.{{cite web |title=Lo stellino Matteo Spagnolo al Real Madrid: primo italiano della storia ad entrare nella Cantera dei "blancos" |url=http://www.stellazzurra.it/news/293112024582/lo-stellino-matteo-spagnolo-al-real-madrid-primo-italiano-della-storia-ad-entrare-nella-cantera-dei-quot-blancos-quot |publisher=Stella Azzurra |accessdate=5 June 2020 |language=Italian |date=2 May 2018}}

On 8 March 2020, Spagnolo made his senior debut for Real Madrid, playing 36 seconds in a Liga ACB loss to Zaragoza.{{cite web |title=Spagnolo becomes the 14th academy graduate to make his debut under Laso |url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2020/03/08/spagnolo-becomes-the-14th-academy-graduate-to-make-his-debut-under-laso |publisher=Real Madrid |accessdate=5 June 2020 |date=8 March 2020}}

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.{{cite web |title=Matteo Spagnolo è un giocatore della Vanoli Basket |url=https://www.vanolibasket.com/matteo-spagnolo-e-un-giocatore-della-vanoli-basket/ |publisher=vanolibasket.com |date=24 July 2021 |language=Italian }}

= Aquila Basket Trento (2022–2023) =

On 28 July 2022, Spagnolo was sent on loan to Italian club Aquila Basket Trento.{{Cite news |title=Aquila Basket Trento announces signing of Timberwolves draftee Matteo Spagnolo |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/matteo-spagnolo-officially-signs-with-aquila-basket-trento/ |access-date=July 28, 2022 |website=Sportando|date=28 July 2022 |last1=Carchia |first1=Emiliano }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Milanti |first=Cesare |title=Matteo Spagnolo signs with ALBA Berlin for three years |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1537886/matteo-spagnolo-signs-with-alba-berlin-for-three-years/ |date=August 9, 2023 |website=Eurohoops |access-date=August 10, 2023}}

= 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 || {{sort|-|—}} || 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 || {{sort|-|—}} || 7.3 || 6.1

=EuroCup=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23

| style="text-align:left;"| Aquila 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=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"

! Year

! Team

! League

! {{Tooltip|GP|Games played}}

! {{Tooltip|MPG|Minutes per game}}

! {{Tooltip|FG%|Field goal percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|3P%|3-point field-goal percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|FT%|Free-throw percentage}}

! {{Tooltip|RPG|Rebounds per game}}

! {{Tooltip|APG|Assists per game}}

! {{Tooltip|SPG|Steals per game}}

! {{Tooltip|BPG|Blocks per game}}

! {{Tooltip|PPG|Points per game}}

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Spain|size=20px}} Real Madrid || style="text-align:center;"|ACB || 1 || 0.6 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 0.0

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Italy|size=20px}} Vanoli Cremona || style="text-align:center;"|LBA || 25 || 27.0 || .440 || .441 || .861 || 2.9 || 3.5 || 2.6 || .8 || 12.2

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Italy|size=20px}} Aquila Trento || style="text-align:center;"|LBA || 28 || 24.1 || .433 || .295 || .776 || 3.8 || 3.0 || .9 || .1 || 12.5

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24 || style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Germany|size=20px}} Alba Berlin || style="text-align:center;"|BBL || 16 || 20.6 || .439 || .333 || .762 || 2.6 || 3.7 || .7 || {{sort|-|—}} || 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.{{cite web |title=MVP Dominguez headlines All-Star Five in Udine |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u16/2019/news/mvp-dominguez-headlines-all-star-five-in-udine |publisher=FIBA |accessdate=5 June 2020 |date=17 August 2019}} 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.{{cite web |title=Basket: il brindisini Matteo Spagnolo debutta in nazionale "Matteo Spagnolo il "fenomeno": debutto in azzurro a soli 17 anni |url=http://www.brindisireport.it/sport/esordio-brindisini-matteo-spagnolo-nazionale-italia-russia-eurobasket2021.html |publisher=BrindisiReport |accessdate=5 June 2020 |language=Italian |date=21 February 2020}}