"Everybody knows that there are many great teams in EuroCup, and EuroCup is a very high level of basketball with great individual players and great organizations and the physicality is very high, the rhythm of the game is very high," said Spagnolo, who is playing for Trento on loan from Real Madrid.
The Brindisi native did not lose many games during his three seasons in the youth ranks at Real. He helped the club win the U16 Spanish title in 2019, twice captured the U18 Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament crown (in 2019 and 2021), as well as three undefeated runs to first-place finishes at ANGT qualifying tournaments. Spagnolo also guided Italy to third place at the FIBA U19 European Championship 2019.
In addition to Trento’s woes this season, Spagnolo played on loan with Cremona last season and the team finished just 8-22 and was relegated.
"I wasn’t used to losing in Madrid. But then reality hit because, as you know, in basketball there is winning and losing," Spagnolo said. "For me, it was a new thing and I had to adjust to it. It wasn’t easy. I didn’t like losing. And I still don’t like losing at all. But at the end of the day, losing is also a part of life and part of my basketball journey."
Playing with Cremona last season and Trento in 2022-23 is a chance for Spagnolo to cut his teeth at the professional level - an opportunity he didn’t get at Real.
"I wanted to play real minutes. I wanted to get a lot of experience playing basketball," said Spagnolo, who averaged 12.2 points on 44.1% three-point shooting, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists for Cremona in 2021-22. "I learned a lot being on the court with other great players and how to play with them and how to communicate with them. Also, I gained experience of playing against grown men which is a great thing for a young player."
Playing in Italy also meant playing back in front of his home fans, who he had not seen since leaving Stellazzurra Rome in 2018 for Real.
"One of the best things about playing in Italy for sure has been that I am closer to my family. Plus I know the language," he said.