Curious to learn some fun facts about Simone Fontecchio, one of Italy’s most famous basketball players today?
Simone Fontecchio hails from Pescara, in the Southern Italian region of Abruzzo. He was born to a family of athletes on December 9, 1995. He started playing basketball at the age of six, following in his family’s footsteps.
Simone Fontecchio stands at 6 feet 7 inches tall. He is a rising NBA star. He plays as a small forward for the Utah Jazz and is a key member of the Italian national basketball team, proudly representing his country in international competitions.
But how much do you know about this talented and versatile Italian basketball player?
Let’s learn more about Simone Fontecchio, one of the most famous Italian athletes today.
17 Fun Facts About Simone Fontecchio
Here are some fun facts about Simone Fontecchio that you might not have heard before.
1. His mother is one of his major influences in his career choice
Simone Fontecchio’s career choice has been significantly influenced by his mother, Amalia “Malì” Pomilio. She was a basketball player who achieved great success, winning two European titles with AS Vicenza and proudly representing Italy in the national team.
2. His father was a professional hurdler
Simone Fontecchio’s dad, Daniele Fontecchio, was a professional hurdler who competed in both national and international competitions.
He played a big role in inspiring Simone to follow his passion for sports, passing down valuable lessons in discipline and a strong work ethic.
Notably, Daniele achieved the status of an Olympic semifinalist during the 1984 games in Los Angeles.
3. Simone Fontecchio’s older brother is also a basketball player
Luca Fontecchio, Simone’s older brother, played in the lower divisions of the Italian league and even teamed up with Simone in the Virtus Bologna youth program.
Born on March 8, 1991, also in Pescara, Luca Fontecchio stands tall at 6 feet 8 inches. Just like his younger brother Simone, Luca is a versatile player, filling the roles of small forward and power forward.
Luca Fontecchio’s most recent stint was with Bologna Basket 2016 in Italy’s Serie B Girone A Play-OUT.
4. He is also a nephew of another basketball player
As we have already established, Simone Fontecchio comes from a basketball-loving family.
Apart from his mother and older brother, Simone’s maternal uncle, Vittorio Pomilio, also had quite the basketball career. In fact, Pomilio was skilled enough to represent the Italian national basketball team and made an impressive 19 appearances for them.
It’s clear that the love for basketball runs in their genes!
5. Simone Fontecchio is not married, but he is a dad to a sweet little girl
While Simone Fontecchio is not married, he is a proud dad to a sweet little girl named Bianca. He shares his home with her and her mother, Fontecchio’s girlfriend named Rosa Tangerini, who regularly comes to the stadium to watch his games and give him a cheer.
They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Simone Fontecchio plays for the Jazz.
6. He was one of the youngest players to sign a 5-year contract in the LBA
At just 17 years old, Fontecchio kicked off his pro basketball journey with Virtus Bologna in the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).
Impressive enough, in 2013, he inked a five-year deal with the team, making him one of the league’s youngest players ever to achieve this milestone.
7. He joined in numerous youth tournaments
He had a blast competing in various youth tournaments like the Jordan Brand Classic International Tour game in London, the Albert Schweitzer Tournament, Basketball Without Borders Europe, and the Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament. He also brought home the Italian Under 17 and Under 19 championships with Virtus Bologna.
In 2016, he became a part of Olimpia Milano. During his time there, he achieved success by winning the Italian Cup and three Italian Super Cups. Additionally, he played on loan for Vanoli Cremona and Reggio Emilia in the LBA.
8. He decided to enter the NBA draft in 2015 but withdrew before the deadline
In 2015, Simone Fontecchio made a bold move by initially deciding to enter the NBA draft earlier than expected. He even had a draft workout with the Boston Celtics, and there were rumors that they were thinking about selecting him in the second round.
However, Fontecchio eventually had a change of heart before the deadline, altering his course and opting not to enter the NBA draft after all.
9. Fontecchio moved to Germany in 2020
In 2020, the Italian basketball player made the move to Germany and joined Alba Berlin.
He had an impressive season in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), with stats like 12.8 points and 4 rebounds per game.
He even earned a spot on the All-BBL Second Team and played a key role in Alba’s journey to the finals, although they fell short against Bayern Munich.
10. Fontecchio was part of the Italian national basketball team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Fontecchio had an awesome run at the 2020 Summer Olympics basketball tournament with Italy.
In one memorable game against Germany, he led the charge with an impressive 20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, helping Italy secure a 92–82 victory.
The Italian basketball team finished in the fifth place out of 12 teams.
11. In 2022, he signed with the Utah Jazz
In July 2022, he joined the Utah Jazz, earning his spot during the NBA Summer League. He signed a two-year contract with the team.
Fontecchio is primarily a small forward, but he’s pretty versatile and can handle shooting guard or power forward roles, too. What makes him stand out are his versatile skills. He excels in moves, shots, and has excellent defensive abilities.
12. He wears jersey number 16, which matches his birthdate
He proudly sports the number 16 on his jersey and there’s a touching reason behind this choice.
The number 16 happens to align perfectly with his birthdate, which is the 9th of December 1995.
Now, let’s break it down: 9 + 2 + 5 = 16.
13. Fontecchio’s career-high score is 30 points
Simone Fontecchio had an impressive career moment when he scored his highest-ever 30 points on April 30, 2022, during a game for Baskonia in the Spanish Liga Endesa against Malaga. In that game, he not only scored 30 points but also contributed with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.
On September 1, 2023, Fontecchio repeated this incredible feat at the FIBA World Cup in Manila, Philippines. He once again scored 30 points, this time against Serbia in the second round. He shot an impressive 11-of-15 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the three-point line.
In addition to his scoring, he grabbed 7 rebounds and dished out 3 assists, helping his team secure an exciting 78-76 win.
14. He is a polyglot
Simone Fontecchio is quite the linguist! As an Italian native, this basketball star is not just limited to his mother tongue. He’s fluent in English, French, Spanish, and German.
He picked up English and French in high school. Later in his career, he added Spanish and German to his linguistic arsenal.
His basketball career has taken him to teams in Italy, Germany, Spain, and the United States. This gave him plenty of opportunities to practice his languages with teammates, coaches, and fans. He also consumes media in different languages, such as podcasts, movies, and books.
Simone Fontecchio has spoken about how learning languages has improved his communication on the court and deepened his appreciation for different cultures. Quite the impressive polyglot on and off the basketball court!
15. His favorite book is The Catcher in the Rye
In his free time, Simone Fontecchio loves to read books, listen to music, and watch movies. His favorite book is said to be J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye.
The Catcher in the Rye is a beloved American classic that has left a lasting impact on artists. It explores important issues of the 1950s like consumerism, loss of faith, and youth rebellion.
16. He is one of the highest-paid Italian players in the NBA
The Italian basketball sensation is making big bucks with the Utah Jazz in the United States! He’s raking in an impressive $3.125 million per year, thanks to his two-year contract that he signed in July 2022.
Simone Fontecchio is definitely one of the top-earning Italian players in the NBA!
17. His net worth is estimated to be $7 million
In 2023, Simone Fontecchio’s estimated net worth is around $7 million. He’s built this wealth through contracts with teams in Italy, Germany, Spain, and the USA.
Plus, he’s also said to have bagged some nice endorsement deals with Gatorade and the most popular American shoe and sportswear brand – Nike.