Olimpia Milano: The Star Player Who Was Late Is Punished Without Delay—Ramondino’s Lesson
A disciplinary issue overshadowed Olimpia Milano’s first game following Peppe Poeta’s dismissal. In the hard-fought 88-86 victory over Dolomiti Energia Trento, Marco Ramondino chose not to start Moses Wright, opting instead for Ousmane Diop.
After the game, the coach explained the reasons behind his decision: “Wright didn’t start because he arrived late to the pregame meeting, and I decided to have him come off the bench.” Despite starting on the bench, the American big man still found playing time in the rotation and played a decisive role in helping the Red-and-Whites secure the victory.
The win at the Forum brought Olimpia’s league record to 10 points and allowed the Red-and-Whites to turn the page after their disappointments in the EuroLeague, where the team was in last place with a 1-9 record following a 73-84 home loss to Valencia. Ramondino, who took over from Poeta as interim coach, explained: “A EuroLeague team wastes a tremendous amount of energy,” adding that the important thing was to win and that the team is now looking for consistency.
The coach then sent a message to the team: “Being on this stage in Milan is a privilege on the one hand and a responsibility on the other. We must be able to embrace both,” asking everyone to step up in terms of taking responsibility and showing determination. Regarding Poeta’s dismissal, he spoke of “great frustration and personal sadness.”
For Diop, who started in place of Wright, Ramondino’s decision came just a few days after the social media post dedicated to Poeta, in which the Senegalese big man had written that “your value goes beyond any result.” Diop, who signed a multi-year contract extension with the club last summer, is coming off two seasons of growth in Milan, having won the 2026 league title thanks in part to an excellent performance in the playoffs and the finals.
Wright, who arrived this summer from Zalgiris Kaunas, had impressed right from his official debut in the Super Cup against Virtus Bologna—a game he finished with 20 points and eight rebounds—establishing himself as Olimpia’s starting center in place of Josh Nebo.
Now all eyes are on the future: Luca Banchi, officially named on Sunday as the new head coach on a multi-year contract and with the dual role of head coach of the Italian national team, has already scheduled his first practice with the team for Monday. His coaching debut is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, in the EuroLeague against Zalgiris Kaunas, followed by an away league game in Udine on November 15.
