The Virtus legend has decided to hang up his sneakers
Marco Belinelli announces his retirement: ‘Basketball gave me everything’
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After a 23-year career as a professional, Virtus Segafredo Bologna sharpshooter Marco Belinelli has confirmed his retirement.
Belinelli, 39, went full circle in his career having started out at Virtus – where he played his first professional season in 2002-03 – before returning to the club in 2020.
During his second spell with the Bologna-based side, he helped lead Virtus to the BKT EuroCup title in 2021-22 which guaranteed the club’s return to the EuroLeague for the first time since 2008.
Over the last three seasons, Belinelli has helped establish Virtus in the EuroLeague. He was largely the team’s sixth man over that period – a role he also enjoyed during a 13-year stretch in the NBA – but he did enjoy a career year in 2023-24 by posting 14.1 points per night as Virtus reached the second round of the Play-In Showdown.
“I gave it my heart,” starts Belinelli’s retirement message.
“Every piece of me.
“Every single day.
“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.”
Either side of his two spells with Virtus (2002-03; 2020-2025), Belinelli also played for Fortitudo Bologna (2003-07) prior to heading to the United States. In 162 EuroLeague games, of which 94 were for Virtus and 68 for Fortitudo, the Italian scored 1,485 points, which is 144th most all-time. His 261 made three-pointers are tied for 66th all-time, too. For his career, he posted 9.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.
In the NBA, Belinelli made a career 925 appearances for the Golden State Warriors (2007-09), Toronto Raptors (2009-10), New Orleans Hornets (2010-12), Chicago Bulls (2012-13), San Antonio Spurs (2013-15), Sacramento Kings (2015-16), Charlotte Hornets (2016-17), Atlanta Hawks (2017-18) and the Philadelphia 76ers (2017-18) before heading back to the Spurs (2018-20). Belinelli averaged 9.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 860 regular-season games, as well as 8.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 60 playoff fixtures.