Olimpia Milano has risen again with Shabazz Napier, now it’s a must to secure him

Napier splashed at 15.7 points of average to race with 4.1 assist and the 44.2% from three. Numbers far from the first week in red and white, marked yes by the two victories over Baskonia and Stella Rossa but also by a modest 3/13 shooting. Numbers that would place it already in the Euroleague top 10 for evaluation and efficiency (17.0). Numbers that send a very explicit message. Napier, who arrived at the end of January on a five-month contract, is to be confirmed (at least) for the next two seasons. At all costs.

With his graft, Milan has finally found a worthy replacement for Sergio Rodriguez. Mind you, the Chacho will always be regretted. But no one else, before him, had made it resonate the chorus of “MVP!” in the Forum less than two months after its official debut. Napier has already conquered squad and especially, public. Inflaming the hardest fans in Italy. Why yes, the Chacho had visionary strokes and a unique ability to generate and transmit enthusiasm. But the modern Euroleague Olympia probably never had a striker as strong, complete, decisive and devastating as Napier. Not even in Keith Langford’s time. And seeing him, for the first time, call the roar of the Forum after a triple made – an unusual gesture for an American player in his first real European experience – only underlines and strengthens a double-stranded bond.

Napier’s confirmation would not imply an admission of the failure of the summer transfer campaign. On the contrary. In the few remnants of the game played with the doppio playmaker paired with Kevin PangosOlympia showed sparks of creativity never seen in the current season, wearing the guise of a true modern high-level team. On the other hand, it is a situation that has already been ridden by coach Ettore Messina in the past, with Chacho alongside Malcolm Delaney for the management of the most complex moments of the matches. Have two great point guards it is now a must for every team with ambitions of Europe. Milan included.