Marco Belinelli, one of Italy’s most decorated basketball players and a 2014 NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, has officially retired at 39.
Belinelli announced the news on Instagram, thanking fans, teammates, and the game itself after nearly two decades as a professional.
“I gave it my heart. Every piece of me,” he wrote. “Basketball gave me everything… and I gave it everything I had. Saying goodbye isn’t easy. But it’s time. I carry with me every emotion, every sacrifice, every cheer. Thank you to those who always believed. To the next generation – I leave a dream. Make it count.”
Drafted 18th overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2007, Belinelli played 13 NBA seasons with teams including Toronto, New Orleans, Chicago, Sacramento, Charlotte, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and most notably San Antonio. He was a key part of the Spurs’ 2014 championship run, averaging 11.4 points that season.
Across his NBA career, he averaged 9.7 points per game and shot 37.6% from beyond the arc, earning a reputation as a reliable scorer and spark off the bench.
After leaving the NBA, Belinelli returned to Virtus Bologna, the club where his career began, and played five more seasons in Italy. He capped off his career with multiple accolades, including Lega Basket Serie A MVP in 2024, back-to-back Sixth Man of the Year awards, and two Serie A titles with Bologna.
