Marcelo Nicola

Marcelo Patricio Nicola Virginio (born May 12, 1971) is an Argentine-Italian[1][2] former professional basketball player and a current coach. A very versatile power forward, he was a regular member of the Argentine national basketball team, and competed many years in the EuroLeague.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Nicola and the second or maternal family name is Virginio.
Marcelo Nicola
Marcelo Nicola with Lietuvos rytas Vilnius
Personal information
Born (1971-05-12) May 12, 1971
Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
NationalityArgentine / Italian
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
NBA draft1993: 2nd round, 50th overall pick
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Playing career1988–2007
PositionPower forward
Number4, 11, 13
Coaching career2014–present
Career history
As player:
1988–1989Sport Club Cañadense
1989–1991Taugrés
1991Long Island Surf
1991–1996Taugrés
1996–1997Panathinaikos
1997–1998FC Barcelona
1998–2004Benetton Treviso
2004–2005BC Kyiv
2005–2006Montepaschi Siena
2006Bipop-Carire Reggio Emilia
2006–2007Tau Cerámica
As coach:
2012–2014UCAM Murcia (assistant)
2014UCAM Murcia
2015Lietuvos rytas Vilnius
2016–2017Hapoel Jerusalem (assistant)
2018–2019Brose Bamberg (assistant)
2018–2019Forlì
2019–2021Gipuzkoa
2022–2023Universo Treviso
Career highlights and awards
As player
As head coach
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  Argentina
FIBA AmeriCup
Silver medal – second place1995 Argentina

Professional career

Nicola was selected 50th overall in the 1993 NBA draft, but remained in Europe and won the Saporta Cup in 1996 with Taugrés, the team in which he made his debut in the Spanish ACB League. He played his best basketball for Benetton Treviso, with which he lifted another Saporta Cup trophy in 1999, and he was selected to the All-EuroLeague Second Team for the Euroleague 2001–02 season. He also made it to the Euroleague 2002–03 final game.

National team career

Nicola was a member of the Argentine national basketball team. With the junior national team of Argentina, he played at the 1993 FIBA Under-21 World Cup. With Argentina's senior men's national team, he played at the 1994 FIBA World Championship, the 1996 Olympics, and the 1998 FIBA World Championship.

Coaching career

In 2012, Nicola started his coach career as assistant coach in Liga ACB team UCAM Murcia.[3] In 2014, after the sacking of Óscar Quintana, he was named the head coach of the team.

In February 2015, he became the head coach of Lietuvos rytas Vilnius team (Lithuania) after Virginijus Šeškus release. On November 16, 2015, it was announced that Nicola was fired from Lietuvos rytas Vilnius due to poor results.[4]

In the beginning of 2016–17 season he joined his former coach Simone Pianigiani at the Israeli club Hapoel Jerusalem.

On 8 September 2017, Nicola came back to Baskonia, where he played six years, for being the coordinator of the youth teams of the club.[5]

References
  1. Euroleague.net NICOLA, MARCELO Nationality: Italy
  2. Marcelo Nicola Naz. Sportiva: ITA
  3. ACB.com – Marcelo Nicola
  4. "Marcelo Nicola palieka "Lietuvos rytą"". Lietuvos rytas. November 16, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  5. "Marcelo Nicola, nuevo coordinador de la cantera baskonista". ACB.com. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
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