Datome: I'm listening to offers from Europe but NBA is still priority
Gigi Datome has played two years in the NBA with Pistons and Celtics
Gigi Datome doesn’t know his future yet.
The captain of the Italian National Team hopes to have an offer from the NBA where he has played the last two seasons with Pistons and Celtics.
Datome is drawing serious interest in Europe from Euroleague top teams as Fenerbahce, Milano or CSKA Moscow.
But he wants to wait the NBA first. Then, if he doesn’t agree on an NBA deal he will return to the Old Continent.
Via Boston Herald, Asked about reports that he has been approached by representatives from Olimpia Milano — imagine Datome on the other side when the Celtics open their exhibition season in Milan against that team on Oct. 6 — Datome dismissed the talk as premature.
“It’s very early because (NBA) free agency is so (early),” Datome said via phone from his home in Sardinia last week. “My agent told me that first the big players will sign, and then you have to wait. I’ve waited more than two months to get here, so I can wait two more.”
“My agent is listening to proposals from European teams, and right now we’re not saying no to anyone. But I still want to see if anyone in the NBA wants to sign me.”
Relegated to the bench in Detroit, Datome had doubted his place in the NBA prior to his trade to the Celtics. He had made a deal with himself to rethink a return to Europe if that negative trend continued.
But Datome now believes, based on how Stevens used him, that he can last in the NBA as a role player.
“My goal is to be a player who plays every night,” he said. “I know I’m not ready to be someone who plays 30 minutes in every game, but I would like to have a regular role off the bench on a team.”
Datome is grateful to Stevens for showing him that such a role is possible.
“I want to thank the Celtics and Coach Stevens because they gave me the opportunity,” Datome said. “I think I showed that I can play at this level. But if I play another year in the NBA, I would like to be one of those guys who plays every night.”
Datome understands that he has to wait for these opportunities to take shape. His calls will come later this month.
He admits that he can earn more money playing in Europe, where a nightly 35-minute role would be guaranteed.
“There are some real opportunities in Europe,” he said. “But right now I am thinking about nothing.”
The captain of the Italian National Team hopes to have an offer from the NBA where he has played the last two seasons with Pistons and Celtics.
Datome is drawing serious interest in Europe from Euroleague top teams as Fenerbahce, Milano or CSKA Moscow.
But he wants to wait the NBA first. Then, if he doesn’t agree on an NBA deal he will return to the Old Continent.
Via Boston Herald, Asked about reports that he has been approached by representatives from Olimpia Milano — imagine Datome on the other side when the Celtics open their exhibition season in Milan against that team on Oct. 6 — Datome dismissed the talk as premature.
“It’s very early because (NBA) free agency is so (early),” Datome said via phone from his home in Sardinia last week. “My agent told me that first the big players will sign, and then you have to wait. I’ve waited more than two months to get here, so I can wait two more.”
“My agent is listening to proposals from European teams, and right now we’re not saying no to anyone. But I still want to see if anyone in the NBA wants to sign me.”
Relegated to the bench in Detroit, Datome had doubted his place in the NBA prior to his trade to the Celtics. He had made a deal with himself to rethink a return to Europe if that negative trend continued.
But Datome now believes, based on how Stevens used him, that he can last in the NBA as a role player.
“My goal is to be a player who plays every night,” he said. “I know I’m not ready to be someone who plays 30 minutes in every game, but I would like to have a regular role off the bench on a team.”
Datome is grateful to Stevens for showing him that such a role is possible.
“I want to thank the Celtics and Coach Stevens because they gave me the opportunity,” Datome said. “I think I showed that I can play at this level. But if I play another year in the NBA, I would like to be one of those guys who plays every night.”
Datome understands that he has to wait for these opportunities to take shape. His calls will come later this month.
He admits that he can earn more money playing in Europe, where a nightly 35-minute role would be guaranteed.
“There are some real opportunities in Europe,” he said. “But right now I am thinking about nothing.”
E. Carchia
@Sportando
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