The NBA is already working towards the next draft without having yet closed its regular season with a Madrid youth squad among the 60 most interesting projects of the 2022 litter: Matteo Spanish. The base (19 years old and 1.93 meters), one of the great jewels of Italian basketball, is on loan this season at Cremona de la Lega after renewing last summer for three seasons with the white team.
According to the latest ESPN forecasts, Spagnolo would come out in the second round, the pick 43, held by the San Antonio Spurs via the Los Angeles Lakers. “He’s gotten under the NBA’s radar this season. and he will continue to be a player that the executives of the League will study closely while he continues to produce in Italy”, writes Mike Schmitz, a journalist specialized in the draft and in the young national and international promises.
Season in Italy
The Italian is averaging 12 points (48.6% from three) and 2.5 assists for 11.6 PIR credits with Cremona. He has had two great performances: against Sassari with 23 goals in 24 minutes and against Derthona Basket Tortona with 21. “Spagnolo has dazzled with his shot after dribbling and his creativity in pick and roll. He’s starting to sink step-back 3-pointers more regularly, even NBA-ranked,” Schmitz continues. “Although he is more prepared to score than to pass, he snakes through blocks like a veteran, crediting hours studying point guards like Luka Doncic, Milos Teodosic and Trae Young, while learning little things in training with Facundo Campazzo at Real Madrid.”
Pass through Madrid
In March 2021, the player from Brindisi became the 14th academy player to make his debut under Pablo Laso at Real Madrid. It was against Casademont Zaragoza. He only played 36 seconds. “He is excellent at assisting. He is very easy to direct and find solutions”, they assured from the club on those dates.
In his last major tournament with the Whites’ academy, he won the Junior Euroleague. It was the third time for the club. He did not have a relevant role in the final phase of Valencia as he came out of an injury that only allowed him to play the final against Barcelona (8 points). However, in Istanbul, in the qualifying tournament, he shot up to 13.7 points and 5.7 assists for an average PIR of 17 in the three qualifying games to unlock 22 points in the final against Stellazzurra Rome from his country.
With Italy
His career has always been precocious. He debuted in the third Italian, with Stella Azzurra, at 13 years and 10 months, and with the Italian national team at the age of 17 (third youngest in history) against Russia during the qualifying windows for the 2022 Eurobasket. He helped Italy during the pre-Olympic training sessions in Belgrade, which ended with the transalpines with a ticket to the Tokyo Games.
