Italy's NT young star Paolo Banchero will be considered naturalized player by FIBA

Banchero will not play as a local player but as naturalized

Paolo Banchero is ready to make his debut with the Italian national team in the upcoming Eurobasket qualifiers in Tallinn.

Five-star prospect will be considered as naturalized player by FIBA rather than as a local. FIBA allows one naturalized player to be on the roster of a national team per game.

The news was confirmed by FIP president Gianni Petrucci in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Next week we will meet Paolo Banchero. He will arrive in Italy with his parents, he will play in the next window. He is very motivated. Too bad that, according to the Fiba rules, we can use him as naturalized player”.

Banchero got his Italian passport after he was 17 and according to FIBA rules has to play as naturalized.