Marco Belinelli Announces Retirement
Marco Belinelli, a 39-year-old Italian basketball player and NBA champion, has announced his retirement from the sport via a heartfelt post on Instagram. In his message, he reflected on his extensive career, stating:
“I gave it my heart. Every piece of me. Every single day. Basketball gave me everything… and I gave it everything I had. Saying goodbye isn’t easy. But it’s time. I carry with me every emotion, every sacrifice, every cheer. Thank you to those who always believed. To the next generation — I leave a dream. Make it count.”
Career Highlights
Drafted 18th overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2007, Belinelli’s journey included stints with various teams, including the Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Hornets, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers. While he enjoyed a lengthy 13-year career in the NBA, Belinelli is perhaps best known for his significant contributions to the Spurs during their championship-winning season in 2014, where he averaged 11.4 points per game as a key bench player.
Statistics and Achievements
Throughout his NBA tenure, he averaged 9.7 points per game with an impressive shooting percentage of 37.6% from three-point range. Following his time in the NBA, Belinelli returned to Italy, where he concluded his professional career at Virtus Bologna, the club where he first emerged as a player.
In the Italian league, he achieved notable success, being named the MVP of the Lega Basket Serie A in 2024 and capturing the Sixth Man of the Year award in both of the preceding seasons. His leadership also helped Virtus Bologna secure two Italian Serie A championships during his final five seasons.
