Belinelli heads back to homeland to play
Marco Belinelli is heading back to his homeland.
Thesharpshooting Italian guard has agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Virtus Bologna after spending the last two seasons with the Spurs, according to La Gazzeta dello Sport.
Belinelli tweeted a photo of himself in the uniform of his new team Thursday.
“I’m back…i am sure I will be able to contribute in an important way,” wrote Belinelli, 34.
Belinelli began his pro career with Virtus Bologna when he was 16. His 13-year NBA career began when Golden State drafted him 18th overall in 2007.
Known for his off-balance, 3-point shooting, Belinelli was a reserve for the Spurs’ 2014 NBA championship team. He left the team after the 2014-15 season but returned to San Antonio as a free agent in 2018.
After averaging 10.5 points and 23.0 minutes per game in 2018-19, Belinelli struggled last season, averaging just 6.3 points and15.5 minutes. He never shot better than 37.6 percent from 3point range during his second stint with the Spurs.
Belinelli leaves the NBA with a career scoring average of nearly 10 points per game and 8,370 career points in 860 games. His career highlights include winning the 3-point shooting contest during the 2014 AllStar Weekend.
Belinelli was among an NBA contingent to meet with Pope Francis on Monday at the Vatican. The purpose of the visit was to discuss the league’s social justice efforts, which reached a crescendo during the NBA restart games in Orlando. Fla., earlier this year.
Belinelli, 34, was the only native Italian in the group.