Marco Belinelli says goodbye to basketball: "I gave everything"

Marco Belinelli is retiring from playing basketball. After an initial post published on his Instagram profile in the morning with photographs and newspaper clippings tracing his glorious career, the now former Virtus Bologna captain announced his official farewell.

The 39-year-old Azzurri announced his retirement.

The 39-year-old Azzurro posted a video titled ‘Shooting is Forever’ on social media writing, “I put my heart into it. Every ounce of myself. Every single day. Basketball gave me everything — and I gave everything to her. It is not easy to say goodbye. But it is time”.

“I carry with me every emotion, every sacrifice, every cheer. Thanks to those who have always been there. To the younger ones, I leave a dream. Make it worth it” concluded Belinelli.

In his rich palmares Belinelli boasts an NBA title – the only Italian to achieve it – obtained with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, the same year he won the three-point contest challenge at the All-Star Game’All-Star Game. The rest of the trophies came with Virtus: 3 Scudetti, 1 Coppa Italia, 4 Italian Supercups and 1 EuroCup.