Gigi Datome talks new career path, years with Fenerbahce / News - Basketnews.com

Former player Luigi "Gigi" Datome gave some remarks about his new position as manger in the Italy national team and his years with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Luigi "Gigi" Datome, a strong presence in European basketball when he was a player, has left remarkable memories in his career, particularly with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and the Italian national team.

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul / Schedule

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Speaking to TRT Spor, the Italian, who recently became the head of delegation for Italy after retiring following last year's FIBA World Cup 2023, talked about his new career and the connection he feels to Fenerbahce.

"Things are going well for me in the national team right now. I am at home. For many years, my summers were spent with the national team," started Datome. "Now, I am the manager of the national team, and it is interesting that my first match was against Turkiye, a country I like very much," he noted.

"I have many friends in the Turkish national team. It was very nice to see them," Datome continued, referencing former Fenerbahce teammates such as Melih Mahmutoglu and Tarik Biberovic, who serve the Turkish national team.

Speaking of Fenerbahce, the club that won Datome his first and only EuroLeague championship in the 2016-17 season, the Italian sharpshooter also re-stated former comments about how much he feels connected to the Turkish club.

"I always follow Fenerbahce, and I was very happy when they won the Turkish Cup. I congratulate them. I also followed the coaching change, and the quality of the team is very high," he said. "As long as they don't play against Milano, I'm always a supporter of Fenerbahce," Datome said, still putting EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 1 step ahead.

"My friends in Turkiye still have great love for me. I am grateful for that. I will never forget the ceremony organized for me at the Ulker Sports Hall," the forward said about a ceremony at the beginning of the 2023-24 season hosted in Fenerbahce's hall after his retirement. "Whenever I am in Turkiye, I always say I have come home."

In his championship season with Fenerbahce, Datome averaged 9.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 46.6% three-point shooting.

His general career averages are 8.3 points and 3.2 rebounds as a member of the 50-40-90 club, with 50.3% two-point, 43.9% three-point, and 90.8% free-throw shooting.

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