Simone Fontecchio denies rumors: I still have more than one chance to remain in the NBA
After completing his fourth NBA season, Simone Fontecchio is preparing for free agency with the clear goal of staying overseas, possibly with the Miami Heat. “I believe I still have more than one chance to remain in the NBA, I’m convinced the market will open up opportunities. Obviously, if it were entirely up to me, I would really like to stay here, also because my family has settled well in the city. But one thing I’ve learned in these years is that expecting something in this world is wrong (he smiles, editor’s note). In July we will evaluate things and see what happens,” he said in an interview with Il Centro.
Fontecchio has already spoken with coach Erik Spoelstra. “Yes, during the usual end-of-season exit meeting. We talked, but we have to wait for developments. Right now it’s still too early to make predictions. There is still the draft and many franchises don’t yet know what they want to do. We need to wait. I felt very good with him, I consider myself very lucky to have had him as a coach. He is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in NBA history. He demands a lot and has very high standards, but I share the same mindset, so I adapted very quickly.”
Regarding rumors linking him to Olimpia Milano reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Fontecchio was firm in his denial: “I think I worked extremely hard to reach the NBA, which is the league I dreamed of playing in as a child, and I don’t feel ready to turn my back on that dream and go back. Unfortunately in Italy some people wake up in the morning and launch the ‘Fontecchio close to Olimpia Milano’ scoop (he smiles bitterly, editor’s note), but they are just headlines published by some outlets to create hype. At the moment, I rule out a return to EuroLeague.”
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