Warriors first-round draft pick turned 13-year NBA vet announces retirement

Warriors first-round draft pick turned 13-year NBA vet announces retirement originally appeared on The Sporting News

Another former Golden State Warriors draft pick is calling it quits. After a long NBA and then a successful international career, Marco Belinelli is hanging up his basketball shoes. Belinelli’s retirement was announced on his Instagram Page on Monday with a poem.

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“Ci ho messo il cuore. Ogni briciolo di me stesso.

Ogni singolo giorno.

La pallacanestro mi ha dato tutto… e io ho dato tutto a lei.

Non è facile dire addio.

Ma è il momento.

Porto con me ogni emozione, ogni sacrificio, ogni applauso.

Grazie a chi c’è sempre stato.

Ai più giovani, lascio un sogno.

Fate in modo che valga la pena.

.

.

.

I gave it my heart.

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.

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Make it count.”

Belinelli started his NBA career as a Warrior after getting drafted with the No.18 overall pick in the 2007 draft. He quickly proved himself as a sharpshooter and had a long and successful career as a role player around the league.

He had his best scoring season late in his career when he was traded from the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers.

After leaving the NBA in 2019-20, he played the next five seasons for his home club Virtus Bologna in Italy.

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While he may not be remembered for his time with the Warriors, Warriors fans will always remember him. Hopefully, whatever Belinelli’s next phase of life is, he brings the same class and passion he always brought to the basketball court.

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