Giampaolo Ricci (born September 27, 1991) is an Italian basketball professional player for Olimpia Milano of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. He plays at the power forward position.[1] Ricci has also represented the Italian national team in international competition.[2][3]

Professional career

Ricci started playing for Basket Chieti, moving in 2009 to Stella Azzurra Roma and then to Assigeco Casalpusterlengo until 2015. In the season 2014/2015 he performed 11.2 ppg and 5.5 rpg in 26 games[4] In 2016 he moved to Scaligera Basket Verona scoring 6 points and 3.8 rebounds of average and winning the price "Scaligero d'oro" as the most appreciated player of the year for the Scaligera Basket Verona team.[5] He then played in 2016/2017 38 games with Derthona Basket where he performed 9.5ppg, 6.2rpg and 1.7apg in average. Ricci contributed to his team ending the regular season as at the second position in the league. He reaches in 2017 the first Italian category (Serie A) LBA under the guidance of the Italian National team coach Romeo Sacchetti. Ricci won Italian Cup in 2019 with Guerino Vanoli Basket under the guidance of Coach Romeo Sacchetti.

Virtus Bologna (2019–2021)

On June 13, 2019, he has signed with Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). In September 2020, he was appointed team captain of the club[6] and he won the Italian Championship with Virtus Bologna under the guidance of Sasha Djordjevic.[7][8]

After having knocked out 3–0 both Basket Treviso in the quarterfinals and New Basket Brindisi in the semifinals, on 11 June 2021 Virtus defeated 4–0 its historic rival Olimpia Milan in the national finals, winning its 16th national title and the first one after twenty years.[9]

Olimpia Milano (2021–present)

On July 6, 2021, Ricci signed a two-year contract with Italian powerhouse Olimpia Milano.[10] On July 7, 2023, Ricci renewed his contract through 2025.

International career

Ricci played for the Italian national team between 2018 and 2021 on eighteen occasions.[11][12]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

EuroLeague

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2021–22 Milano 36 5 12.3 .469 .362 .500 2.2 .4 .4 .1 3.2 3.0
2022–23 29 5 10.3 .452 .324 .700 2.3 .3 .4 .2 2.6 2.6
2023–24 22 2 7.0 .226 .174 — 1.1 .1 .3 .1 .8 0.0
Career 87 12 10.3 .423 .313 .600 2.0 .3 .4 .1 2.4 2.1

Player profile

Ricci is a player with great technical skills and court vision. He is renowned for his 3-point shots (307% shooting in seasons 2020–2021) and his defensive skills made him an appreciated player in the European panorama.

References

  1. ^ "Vanoli Cremona keeps Ricci for another season". eurobasket.com. 20 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Italian Experimental National team won Vicenza Tournament". eurobasket.com. 20 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Italia team 3vs3 Europe Cup Qualifier 2018". FIBA basketballe.
  4. ^ "Giampaolo Ricci player profile". LNP Basketball National League.
  5. ^ "Tezenis, lo Scaligero d'Oro di Giampaolo Ricci "Tezenis Versona, the Golden Scaligero is for Giampaolo Ricci". LNP Basketball National League.
  6. ^ Il nuovo capitano della Segafredo Virtus Bologna è Giampaolo Ricci, Basket Universo
  7. ^ "Virtus Bologna, festa scudetto. Milano ko in gara-4 73–62". ilrestodelcarlino.it. 12 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Giampaolo Ricci player profile". LBA.
  9. ^ Virtus, sei magnifica! Bologna, scudetto dopo 20 anni, Milano schiacciata 4–0, Gazzetta dello Sport
  10. ^ ""I'm full of energy, Coach Messina's call was a difference maker": Pippo Ricci is coming to Olimpia". olimpiamilano.com (in Italian). 6 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Italian Experimental National team won Vicenza Tournament". eurobasket.com. 20 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Ricci Italian Basketball Association Profil". FIBA basketball.

External links