A Century of Azzurri: Italy Celebrates 100 Years of National Basketball

Milan is a city defined by its layers of history, but this week, the focus shifted to a specific patch of ground in the northwest corner of the city. In Piazzale Accursio, sports fans and legends gathered to commemorate a milestone that began a century ago: the debut of the Italian national basketball team.

On April 4, 1926, the “Azzurri”—though they wore white jerseys for that first outing—stepped onto the court at the Poligono della Cagnola for the first time. They didn’t just play; they won, defeating France 23-17. A hundred years later, the legacy of that single victory has evolved into a storied history of European championships and Olympic glory.

Returning to the Roots: The Centennial Celebration

The celebrations in Milan were more than just a formal anniversary; they were a homecoming. The events centered around Piazzale Accursio, an area once known as Piazza del Bersaglio. While the original court at the Poligono della Cagnola is now across the street from a modern basketball court, the spirit of the game remains embedded in the soil of the Musocco district, which was incorporated into Milan in 1923.

As part of the festivities, city officials and the Municipio 8 unveiled a celebratory stele to mark the spot where the national team first took flight. The atmosphere was charged with nostalgia, drawing some of the most influential figures in the history of the sport. Among the attendees was the 93-year-old Sandro Gamba, widely regarded as Italy’s most successful coach, along with federal president Fausto Maifredi.

Also present was Pierluigi Marzorati, the cornerstone of the national team’s history. Records vary slightly on his exact tally—with some sources citing 277 appearances and others 278—but his impact is undisputed, having helped lead Italy to an Olympic silver medal in Moscow in 1980 and a European gold in Nantes in 1983.

To make the history tangible for a new generation, the “RipartiAmo Basket” initiative launched a traveling exhibition. The showcase features 13 totems, a nod to the 13 original rules of basketball established by James Naismith. The exhibition’s first stop is the Belvedere on the 39th floor of Palazzo Lombardia, offering a panoramic view of the city that has hosted the sport for a century.

The 1926 Debut: A Low-Scoring Victory

By modern standards, a final score of 23-17 seems unimaginable, but in April 1926, it was a statement of intent. Under the guidance of coach Marco Muggiani, the first Italian quintet consisted of Carlo Canevini, Alberto Valera, Giovanni Ortelli, Guido Brocca, and Giannino Valli.

Canevini emerged as the standout performer of the debut, scoring 9 points—nearly 40% of the team’s total output. The match was overseen by referee Augusto Vitali and attended by General Ferdinando Negrini, who served as the president of Fipac (the Italian Basketball Federation at the time).

That first game set a precedent for a team that would eventually become a powerhouse in Europe. Within a decade, Italy was competing on the world stage, placing seventh at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and securing a second-place finish at the 1937 European Championships, narrowly losing the final to Lithuania by a single point.

A Legacy of Gold and Silver

Since those early days in Milan, the team—now commonly known as Italbasket—has carved out a reputation as one of the most consistent programs in international play. The program is currently managed by the FIP (Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro) and led by coach Luca Banchi.

The pinnacle of the program’s success came in the form of two European championships. In both 1983 (Nantes) and 1999 (Paris), Italy faced Spain in the final and emerged victorious. These titles cemented Italy’s status among the elite, placing them alongside France with 10 total EuroBasket medals, trailing only Spain’s 14.

The Olympic journey has been equally prestigious. Italy has secured two silver medals, first in 1980 and again in 2004. These achievements reflect a century of growth, from a dusty court in Musocco to the grandest arenas in the world.

By the Numbers: A Century of Excellence

To understand the scale of Italbasket’s journey, one must look at the statistical pillars of the program. While the 1926 game was a modest affair, the subsequent decades produced legendary figures who redefined the game in Italy.

• All-Time Leading Scorer: Antonello Riva holds the record with 3,785 points.
• Appearance Leader: Pierluigi Marzorati (approx. 277-278 caps).
• Global Standing: As of March 2025, Italy held the 14th position in the FIBA world ranking.
• Olympic Presence: 13 participations resulting in 2 silver medals.
• European Dominance: 38 EuroBasket participations with 10 medals total.

For those following the current trajectory of the team, the program continues to prioritize high-intensity preparation. Following the 2025 cycle, the team utilized a training camp in Folgaria and the Trentino Basket Cup to refine their tactical approach under the current leadership.

The Evolution of the Game in Italy

The transition from the “Palla al cesto” of the 1920s to the modern, fast-paced game of 2026 is more than just a change in rules; it is a reflection of Italy’s cultural embrace of the sport. The “RipartiAmo Basket” project highlights this by focusing on neighborhood involvement, using the centennial as a catalyst to promote basketball in local districts.

The contrast is stark: in 1926, the game was played in an area that would later house Alfa Romeo, in a town that was only recently absorbed into the city of Milan. Today, the sport is a globalized industry with professional leagues and world-class infrastructure. Yet, the core of the game—the drive for victory and the pride of the jersey—remains unchanged from that first afternoon in April.

As the “RipartiAmo Basket” exhibition moves from Palazzo Lombardia to other locations, it serves as a reminder that every great sporting dynasty begins with a single game. For the Azzurri, that game happened a century ago in a quiet corner of Milan, sparking a passion that continues to drive the nation toward its next gold medal.

The national team will continue its preparations for upcoming international windows, with official updates provided by the Italian basketball community and the FIP.

Do you have a favorite memory of the Azzurri? Share your thoughts on the team’s century of history in the comments below.