Gabriele Procida
Gabriele Procida is an Italian professional basketball player who serves as a small forward for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague.[1] Born on June 1, 2002, in Como, Italy, he stands at 2.01 meters (6 feet 7 inches) tall and weighs 93 kilograms.[2] Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft, his rights were immediately traded to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Jerami Grant and other assets.[3] In February 2024, the Pistons traded Procida's rights to the Utah Jazz as part of a deal involving Simone Fontecchio, Kevin Knox, and a future second-round pick.[4] Procida began his youth career in the Pallacanestro Cantù academy before joining Stella Azzurra's U18 team in 2018 and Virtus Bologna's U18 squad in 2019, where he competed in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament.[5] He made his professional debut at age 17 with Cantù in the Lega Basket Serie A during the 2019–20 season, appearing in seven games and averaging 1.3 points per game.[5] In the 2020–21 season, he secured a four-year contract with Cantù, increasing his role to average 6.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 41.9% from three-point range in 21 appearances.[5] Prior to the 2021–22 season, he transferred to Fortitudo Bologna in the Lega Basket Serie A2, where he averaged 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 26 games over 18.5 minutes per contest.[3] Following the 2022 draft, Procida opted to develop in Europe, signing with ALBA Berlin of the German Basketball Bundesliga and EuroLeague for the 2022–23 season.[6] He remained with ALBA for three seasons, contributing as a rotation player and earning recognition for his athleticism and perimeter shooting.[7] In July 2025, he signed a three-year contract with Real Madrid, including opt-out clauses to join the Utah Jazz in 2027 or 2028.[8] During the 2023–24 EuroLeague season with ALBA, Procida was named the league's Rising Star, highlighting his emergence as a promising young talent.[9] On the international stage, Procida has represented Italy since his senior debut in February 2021 against North Macedonia.[6] He previously competed with Italy's youth teams, including the U16 squad at the 2018 FIBA U16 European Championship (averaging 10.1 points) and the U18 team at the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship (averaging 13.1 points).[10] With the senior national team, he participated in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, facing teams like the United States, and the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket.[9] Known for his scoring versatility, three-point shooting, and athleticism, Procida is regarded as one of Italy's top emerging prospects with potential NBA viability.[5]Early life and youth career
Early life
Gabriele Procida was born on June 1, 2002, in Como, Italy.[1] His parents, originally from Agropoli in the Campania region, relocated to northern Italy for work opportunities, where they raised him alongside his extended family ties to the Cilento area.[11] Growing up in the Como area, including the nearby town of Lipomo, Procida developed an early passion for basketball amid the region's vibrant local sports scene.[12][13] He took his initial steps in the sport through community influences, transitioning later into organized youth programs such as those offered by local clubs in the Como province.[14]Youth career
Procida began his youth career at age 12 in the minibasket program of Progetto Giovani Cantù (PGC), an academy affiliated with Pallacanestro Cantù, where he developed his skills and won the Italian under-16 national title.[14][11] In 2018, he joined Stella Azzurra's U18 team and competed in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament. The following year, he moved to Virtus Bologna's U18 squad, participating again in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament.[5]Professional career
Pallacanestro Cantù (2019–2021)
Procida made his professional debut with Pallacanestro Cantù, his hometown club in the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA), on October 13, 2019, at the age of 17, during a game against Reyer Venezia.[15] Having progressed through Cantù's youth system, he entered the senior roster as a promising prospect, initially seeing limited action as a bench player focused on building experience in the competitive Serie A environment.[5] Over two seasons with Cantù (2019–20 and 2020–21), Procida appeared in 35 LBA games, accumulating 187 total points while averaging around 5.3 points per game across his tenure.[16] In his rookie 2019–20 season, limited to seven contests due to the league's COVID-19 disruptions, he contributed modestly with nine points and three rebounds in 28 total minutes.[5] His role expanded in 2020–21, where he played in 28 games, averaging 6.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per outing, showcasing improved perimeter shooting efficiency at 38.8% from three-point range on 2.9 attempts per game.[5][16] On June 19, 2020, Cantù secured Procida's future by signing him to a four-year contract extension, reflecting the club's confidence in his development as a versatile wing.[15] Throughout his time as a reserve, Procida honed his defensive fundamentals and perimeter skills against seasoned Serie A competition, establishing a foundation for his professional growth without starting a single game.[5]Fortitudo Bologna (2021–2022)
In July 2021, following the relegation of Pallacanestro Cantù to Italy's second division, Procida transferred to Fortitudo Bologna, signing a multi-year contract for the 2021–22 Lega Basket Serie A season.[6] Procida played in 26 games for Fortitudo, accumulating 181 total points while posting season averages of 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 18.5 minutes per game—slight improvements from his 2020–21 averages of 6.4 points and 2.5 rebounds with Cantù.[16] These gains reflected his adaptation to a more competitive roster and increased role, where he shot 52.2% from the field and 38.3% from three-point range.[17] Throughout the season, Procida showcased emerging skills in pull-up shooting and athletic finishes, leveraging his 6-foot-6 frame and quick first step to create scoring opportunities off the dribble and in transition.[5] Building briefly on his perimeter shooting foundation from Cantù, these developments highlighted his potential as a versatile wing in high-pressure domestic matchups.[18] As the season progressed, Procida prepared for a potential move abroad by declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft and participating in pre-draft workouts, including a session with the Indiana Pacers in June 2022, where he demonstrated his athleticism and shooting touch.[19]Alba Berlin (2022–2025)
In July 2022, Procida signed a three-year contract with Alba Berlin, marking his entry into the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and the EuroLeague.[20] This move allowed the 20-year-old Italian forward to make his professional debut in both competitions during the 2022–23 season, where he appeared in 27 EuroLeague games, averaging 5.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 14.4 minutes per game.[21] Procida's development accelerated in the 2023–24 season, as he became a more prominent rotation player for Alba Berlin. In 25 EuroLeague appearances, he posted averages of 8.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and a league-leading 1.4 steals per game while playing 17.3 minutes.[21] His defensive contributions and improved scoring efficiency highlighted his breakout, earning him the EuroLeague Rising Star Trophy for the season.[22] During the 2024–25 campaign, Procida reached new statistical heights in the EuroLeague, averaging 9.7 points and 2.2 rebounds across 26 games in 20.5 minutes per outing.[23] A pinnacle moment came on November 12, 2024, when he erupted for a career-high 29 points on 10-of-18 field goals in Alba Berlin's 105-101 overtime home victory over Olimpia Milano.[24] Over his three seasons with the club, Procida's role evolved from a promising rookie to a key perimeter contributor in Europe's top competition.Real Madrid (2025–present)
On July 25, 2025, Gabriele Procida signed a three-year contract with Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and EuroLeague, departing ALBA Berlin after three seasons.[25][26] The deal includes NBA exit clauses in the summers of 2026 and 2027, allowing Procida to potentially join the Utah Jazz—holders of his NBA rights—for the 2026–27 or 2027–28 seasons.[27][8] Procida has integrated into Real Madrid's roster as a wing rotation player, providing depth behind established forwards in both domestic and European competitions.[1] Drawing on his prior EuroLeague experience with ALBA Berlin, he has focused on adapting to the team's high-tempo, title-contending system under coach Chus Mateo.[21] In the early 2025–26 season, through the first six games across competitions as of November 2025, Procida has averaged around 10 minutes per game off the bench, contributing 3.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per outing while shooting efficiently at 55.6% from the field in limited action.[16][28] His role emphasizes defensive versatility and spot-up shooting in a high-pressure environment, where Real Madrid has maintained its status as a perennial contender, helping him build toward a more prominent position amid the squad's depth.[1]International career
Youth career
Procida began his international youth career with Italy's under-16 national team at the 2018 FIBA Under-16 European Championship in Novi Sad, Serbia, where he was selected as part of the 12-player roster by the Italian Basketball Federation. Appearing in all seven games, he contributed an average of 10.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per contest, helping Italy secure 11th place in the tournament.[10] A highlight was his career-high six steals recorded on August 12, 2018, during a victory over Israel.[24] The following year, Procida earned a spot on Italy's under-18 squad for the 2019 FIBA Under-18 European Championship in Volos, Greece, again playing in all seven matches as a key wing contributor.[29] His performance improved markedly, averaging 13.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, while Italy finished ninth overall.[10] On July 29, 2019, in a 65-72 loss to Greece, he notched a career-high three blocks, showcasing his defensive potential.[24]Senior career
Procida made his debut for the senior Italy national team on February 19, 2021, during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 qualifiers, playing five minutes without scoring in the overtime loss to Estonia.[30] In that qualification campaign, he appeared in two games overall, averaging 5.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per contest.[10] Procida's role expanded in subsequent tournaments, transitioning from bench minutes to a more prominent wing position. At the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan, he featured in all six of Italy's games, contributing 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds per game on average as a rotation player off the bench.[10] His efforts supported Italy's campaign, which saw a 2-1 group stage record and advancement to the second round, highlighted by a notable upset win over Serbia, before elimination in the quarterfinals by the United States. Leading into the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket, Procida showed further development during the qualifiers, averaging 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assist across four appearances, demonstrating improved scoring and rebounding efficiency with a 10.3 player efficiency rating.[10] In the main tournament held across Cyprus, Finland, Latvia, and Poland, he played in two games, posting 5.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per outing, solidifying his status as a key perimeter contributor for the Azzurri; Italy advanced from the group stage with a 4–1 record but was eliminated in the round of 16 by Slovenia.[10]Playing style and accolades
Playing style
Gabriele Procida is a 6-foot-7 (201 cm) wing who primarily operates as a shooting guard or small forward, leveraging his 6-foot-8 (203 cm) wingspan to contest shots and finish plays effectively.[31][28] He showed promise as a perimeter shooter in Italian leagues, hitting around 38% from three-point range, though his efficiency has been lower (around 25-30%) in EuroLeague play, displaying a confident pull-up jumper and the ability to create separation off the dribble.[32][16] Procida's leaping ability allows him to excel in above-rim situations, combining sneaky explosiveness with a quick first step to drive and finish dynamically.[33] Additionally, his above-average basketball IQ enables smart positioning and opportunistic contributions on both ends of the floor.[31] Areas for improvement include his raw playmaking skills, as he struggles to facilitate for teammates consistently and can be turnover-prone in high-pressure situations.[33] His off-ball movement requires refinement to better exploit defensive rotations, and occasional decision-making lapses lead to inefficient possessions.[31][32] Overall, Procida's athletic profile emphasizes positional versatility as a modern wing, capable of guarding multiple positions while providing spacing and transition scoring, though continued physical development will enhance his defensive impact.[18] In the 2024–25 EuroLeague season, he averaged 9.7 points and 2.2 rebounds but shot 21.9% from three-point range. Early in his 2025–26 stint with Real Madrid (as of November 2025), he is averaging 2.6 points per game.[16]Awards and honors
Procida earned the 2023–24 EuroLeague Rising Star Trophy, becoming the first player in ALBA Berlin's history to receive the award and the third Italian overall, following Andrea Bargnani (2005–06) and Danilo Gallinari (2007–08).[34][9] The honor, voted on by EuroLeague head coaches, recognized players under 22 years old as of July 1 of the previous year and was awarded for his contributions during the season with ALBA Berlin, where he appeared in 25 games, averaging 8.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game.[34][16] No individual awards or All-Tournament Team selections for Procida were recorded from his participation in the 2018 FIBA U16 European Championship or the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship, where Italy did not secure medals.[35]Career statistics
EuroLeague
Gabriele Procida made his EuroLeague debut with Alba Berlin during the 2022–23 season, appearing in 27 games and averaging 5.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 0.5 steals per game, while posting a player efficiency rating (PIR) of 4.0 and shooting 61.0% from two-point range and 24.1% from three-point range.[21] In the 2023–24 season, he elevated his performance over 25 games, averaging 8.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and a team-leading 1.4 steals per game, with a PIR of 8.0 and shooting splits of 58.2% on two-pointers and 29.0% on three-pointers.[21] Procida's 2024–25 season with Alba Berlin marked further progress in 26 games, where he averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.7 steals, achieving a PIR of 7.7 and shooting 61.9% from two-point range alongside 21.9% from beyond the arc.[21] A standout performance came on November 12, 2024, when he scored a career-high 29 points (9/11 two-pointers, 8/10 free throws) against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan.[36] Earlier that month, on November 7, 2024, he recorded his highest PIR of 34 against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, contributing 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks.[36] As of November 10, 2025, Procida has appeared in 1 game for Real Madrid in the 2025–26 season, averaging 2.0 points, 1.0 rebound, and 1.0 assist in 7:45 minutes, with a PIR of 3.0.[21] Over his EuroLeague career spanning 79 games, he has totaled 616 points for an average of 7.8 points per game, alongside 148 rebounds, 58 assists, 68 steals, and a cumulative PIR of 513, with career shooting percentages of 60.5% on two-pointers and 25.0% on three-pointers.[21] He has recorded 3 steals in multiple games, including on March 25, 2025, against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.[36]| Season | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | PIR | 2P% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 27 | 14.6 | 5.7 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 4.0 | 61.0 | 24.1 | 75.8 |
| 2023–24 | 25 | 17.5 | 8.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 8.0 | 58.2 | 29.0 | 75.6 |
| 2024–25 | 26 | 20.5 | 9.7 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 7.7 | 61.9 | 21.9 | 78.6 |
| 2025–26 | 1 | 7.8 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Career | 79 | 17.3 | 7.8 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 6.5 | 60.5 | 25.0 | 76.9 |
Domestic leagues
Procida's professional career in domestic leagues began in the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) with Acqua San Bernardo Cantù during the 2019–21 seasons. Over 35 games, he scored a total of 187 points, averaging 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game; his scoring high was 15 points in a 2020–21 matchup against Reyer Venezia.[16] In the 2021–22 season, he joined Fortitudo Bologna in the LBA, appearing in 26 games and accumulating 181 points for an average of 7.0 points per game, alongside 3.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists; his career-high in that stint was 20 points against Germani Brescia.[16] Procida then transitioned to the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) with ALBA Berlin from 2022 to 2025, where he participated in 60 domestic league games, totaling 454 points with an average of 7.6 points per game, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.9 assists; notable highs included 18 points in a 2023–24 game versus Bayern Munich.[28] Since joining Real Madrid in the Spanish Liga ACB for the 2025–26 season, Procida has played 6 games as of November 2025, scoring 19 points (3.2 per game), with 8 rebounds (1.3 average) and 7 assists (1.2 average); his early high was 7 points against Valencia Basket.[28]| League | Team (Seasons) | Games | Points (Avg) | Rebounds (Avg) | Assists (Avg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LBA | Cantù (2019–21) | 35 | 187 (5.3) | 74 (2.1) | 18 (0.5) |
| LBA | Bologna (2021–22) | 26 | 181 (7.0) | 78 (3.0) | 18 (0.7) |
| BBL | ALBA Berlin (2022–25) | 60 | 454 (7.6) | 120 (2.0) | 54 (0.9) |
| ACB | Real Madrid (2025–26) | 6 | 19 (3.2) | 8 (1.3) | 7 (1.2) |