Amanda Knapp
Davide Moretti, born in Bologna, Italy, on March 25, 1998, is a professional basketball player with a height of six feet three inches. Moretti grew up playing soccer, tennis, and volleyball. He is the son of Paolo Moretti, a former professional basketball player who played for clubs like Virtus Bologna and Fortitudo Bologna, and later became a coach. Davide Moretti followed in his father's footsteps and took up basketball seriously during his college years, signing an Athletic Scholarship Agreement to play for Texas Tech in the NCAA Division I.
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What You'll Learn
Davide Moretti's early life and introduction to basketball
Davide Moretti was born on March 25, 1998, in Bologna, Italy. He grew up playing soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Moretti is the son of Paolo Moretti, a professional basketball player who played for several clubs, including Virtus Bologna and Fortitudo Bologna, from 1988 to 2000. After retiring, Paolo began coaching and won the LBA Coach of the Year award with Pistoia in 2014. Davide Moretti followed in his father's footsteps and took up basketball early in his life.
In the 2013–14 season, he played for the Italian amateur club Stella Azzurra and joined them at the Città di Roma regional tournament for the Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament. On July 9, 2014, he signed with the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) club Pistoia Basket 2000, where his father was the head coach. Through 12 games, Moretti averaged 1.3 points in 6.9 minutes per game. For the next two seasons, he played for Universo Treviso Basket of the Serie A2 Basket.
In the 2016–17 season, Moretti established himself as one of the best young players in Italy, averaging 12.6 points, 2.3 assists, and 0.9 steals per game, which earned him the best under-22 player award in the Serie A2. On June 12, 2017, he signed an Athletic Scholarship Agreement to play college basketball for Texas Tech in the NCAA Division I. He chose Texas Tech over other prestigious programs due to head coach Chris Beard's experience with European styles of play. Moretti's decision to play college basketball was influenced by his father's advice to improve as a player.
During his freshman season at Texas Tech, Moretti primarily came off the bench, averaging 3.5 points, 1.1 assists, and 0.8 rebounds per game. However, by his sophomore year, he had become a regular starter. On January 26, 2019, he scored a career-high 21 points against Arkansas. By the end of the regular season, he was shooting an impressive 92.2% on free throws, ranking second in the NCAA Division I. Moretti's academic achievements were also recognized as he was included in the Academic All-America Basketball Third Team by CoSIDA.
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Moretti's father, Paolo Moretti, and his influence
Davide Moretti, born in Bologna, Italy, on March 25, 1998, is a professional basketball player. He grew up playing soccer, tennis, and volleyball, in addition to basketball. Moretti's father, Paolo Moretti, was a professional basketball player himself, playing for clubs like Virtus Bologna and Fortitudo Bologna during his 15-year career in Europe. Paolo won a silver medal with the Italian national team at EuroBasket 1997.
After retiring, Paolo took up coaching and was named head coach of Pistoia Basket in Serie A2 Basket in 2009. Davide, meanwhile, played for the youth teams of Pistoia and Stella Azzurra Rome before making his Italian league debut with Pistoia in 2014/15, where his father was head coach. Paolo guided Pistoia to the playoffs in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. In the 2012-13 season, he led Pistoia to a historical promotion to Serie A. Paolo was named Italian League Coach of the Year in 2014, the same year he won the LBA Coach of the Year award.
Davide benefited from his father's experience and advice as he progressed in his basketball career. He played college basketball for Texas Tech Red Raiders, where he averaged impressive numbers and was named to the 2018 All-Big 12 Conference Academic Rookie Team. He later signed with Olimpia Milano of the Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroLeague. Davide's younger brother, Niccolo, also plays basketball in Italy at the junior level.
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Moretti's college basketball career at Texas Tech
Davide Moretti, a native of Bologna, Italy, played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Moretti is the son of Paolo Moretti, who had a 15-year professional career in Europe and won a silver medal with the Italian national team at EuroBasket 1997. Before joining Texas Tech, Moretti played for prominent Italian amateur club Stella Azzurra and later signed with Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) club Pistoia Basket 2000, where his father was the head coach.
At Texas Tech, Moretti was a point guard known for his sharpshooting abilities. He averaged 11.5 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game over his college career. Coming into his junior season, Moretti was named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List and started all 31 games, averaging 13 points per game, 2.3 assists, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. Moretti was also a standout student, winning the Elite 90 Award for academic excellence and earning multiple Academic All-Big 12 and CoSIDA Academic All-America honours.
During his time with the Red Raiders, Moretti played a significant role in the team's success, including a trip to the 2019 NCAA Championship Final and the 2018 Elite Eight. He finished his college career with 76 wins, eight of which came in the NCAA Tournament. Moretti also compiled 204 assists and 94 steals while at Texas Tech.
In May 2020, Moretti decided to forego his senior season at Texas Tech to pursue a professional career in Europe, signing with Olimpia Milano of the Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroLeague. He expressed gratitude for his time at Texas Tech, thanking the coaches for pushing him to become the best version of himself.
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His professional career in Europe
Davide Moretti, born on March 25, 1998, in Bologna, Italy, is a professional basketball player. He played several sports, including soccer, tennis, and volleyball, while growing up. Moretti's father, Paolo Moretti, had a successful 15-year professional basketball career in Europe, primarily with the Virtus Bologna and Fortitudo Bologna clubs. Paolo later transitioned into coaching, becoming the head coach of Pistoia Basket in 2009 and leading them to the playoffs in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
Davide Moretti's professional career in Europe began when he signed with agent Miško Raznatović of BeoBasket in 2020, marking a shift from his college basketball career at Texas Tech. Moretti's decision to pursue a professional path in Europe was influenced by his desire to learn and improve within a top-level organization on the continent.
On May 26, 2020, Moretti signed a multi-year contract with Olimpia Milano of the Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroLeague, marking his first significant step in professional basketball. The move was welcomed by the club's general manager, Christos Stavropoulos, who praised Moretti's potential and his role in strengthening the nucleus of Italian players at the club.
In the 2021-22 season, Moretti played on a loan contract for V.L. Pesaro, showcasing his versatility and adaptability. During this period, he set a career-high in steals in a game against Milano, demonstrating his defensive prowess. Moretti's performance in the 2021-22 season further solidified his presence in Italian basketball.
On July 4, 2023, Moretti continued his journey in the Lega Basket Serie A by signing with Pallacanestro Varese, a club with which his father had also been associated as a head coach. Moretti's impact in Varese was anticipated to be significant, as he joined a team with a rich history and ambitious goals.
The culmination of Moretti's professional career in Europe, as of the sources' publication dates, was his signing with Reyer Venezia of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A on June 29, 2024. This move brought his career full circle, as he returned to the city of Venice, where he had previously played for Umana Reyer Venezia.
Throughout his professional career in Europe, Moretti has continued to excel and set new records, such as achieving a career-high in assists in an Italy - LBA Serie A game on November 19, 2023.
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Davide's younger brother, Niccolo, and his basketball journey
Davide Moretti's younger brother, Niccolo Moretti, was born on March 15, 2004. Niccolo shared a similar passion for basketball as his older brother. He played at the NBA Global Academy, a year-round training center at Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport. In July 2022, he competed in the NBA Academy Games in Atlanta, averaging 10.3 points and 3.5 assists.
Niccolo's journey in basketball continued to flourish as he represented Italy in the FIBA U18 European Championships in the summer of 2022. He played a crucial role in Italy's sixth-place finish, averaging 9.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. His standout performance came in the Round of 16 win over Greece, where he scored 15 points, dished out six assists, and grabbed five steals.
Following his success in the FIBA U18 European Championships, Niccolo returned to the United States in December 2022 for the Tarkanian Classic. He showcased his versatility by recording a double-double in the G League Winter Showcase, accumulating 19 points and 10 assists against NBA Academy Africa.
Niccolo's basketball journey continued as he pursued his education. He graduated from DME Sports Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 2022. As of 2023, he is a redshirt freshman at the University of Illinois, playing in 18 games and contributing to his team's success. Niccolo's passion for the sport, combined with his dedication and hard work, has allowed him to follow in his brother's footsteps and forge his path in the world of basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
Davide Moretti was born in Bologna, Italy, and grew up playing soccer, tennis, and volleyball. He is the son of Paolo Moretti, who had a 15-year professional basketball career in Europe and won a silver medal with the Italian national team at EuroBasket 1997. After retiring, Paolo Moretti became a coach and won the LBA Coach of the Year award in 2014. Davide Moretti followed in his father's footsteps and took up basketball.
Davide Moretti's first basketball team was the Pistoia youth team, where he signed his first professional contract in 2014.
Davide Moretti has played for several notable teams throughout his career, including Stella Azzurra, Universo Treviso Basket, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Olimpia Milano, V.L. Pesaro, Pallacanestro Varese, and Reyer Venezia.
Davide Moretti developed his basketball skills by playing for various youth and amateur teams in Italy, such as Stella Azzurra and Pistoia. He also took his father's advice to improve his game through college basketball and joined Texas Tech, where he excelled and became a regular starter.
