Denis Marconato
Encyclopedia
Denis Marconato (born July 29, 1975 in Treviso
) is an Italian
professional basketball player. He is 211 cm (6 ft 11 in) tall and he plays at the center
position, in which he's considered to have been one of the best defensive players of his era in Europe.
with the senior team of Benetton Treviso
in the 1993-94 season, but he did not have a place in Treviso's roster, so he was loaned to Padova, where he demonstrated his talent. In the 1996-97 season, he returned to Treviso and Benetton coach Mike D'Antoni
gave him a more important role in the team; and that season Marconato won his first Italian Championship. After winning the Italian SuperCup title and MVP in 1997 and the Saporta Cup
in 1999, he was named the MVP of the Italian Cup Final Eight in 2000 (won by Benetton).
In the following years, he won two more Italian championships (2002, 2003), three more Italian Cups (2003, 2004, 2005) and played at two Euroleague
Final Fours (2002, 2003). During his last season with Treviso, Marconato was also the captain
of the team. In the summer of 2005, he moved to the Spanish ACB League club FC Barcelona, together with his Italian national team teammate Gianluca Basile
.
in 1996. From then onward, he was a stable member of the senior Italian national team, which won the European Championship in 1999
, a bronze medal at the European Championship in 2003
, and the silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games
in Athens
. In addition, Marconato was also a member of the Italian roster at the World Championship in 2006
.
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
) is an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
professional basketball player. He is 211 cm (6 ft 11 in) tall and he plays at the center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
position, in which he's considered to have been one of the best defensive players of his era in Europe.
Pro career
Marconato joined Benetton Treviso's youth team in 1990 and with them he won three juniors titles between 1991 and 1994. He made his debut in the Serie ASerie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
with the senior team of Benetton Treviso
Pallacanestro Treviso
Pallacanestro Treviso, more often known by its sponsorship name of Benetton Basket, or Benetton Treviso, is an Italian Serie A League professional basketball club from Treviso, the headquarters city of its longtime owner Benetton Group...
in the 1993-94 season, but he did not have a place in Treviso's roster, so he was loaned to Padova, where he demonstrated his talent. In the 1996-97 season, he returned to Treviso and Benetton coach Mike D'Antoni
Mike D'Antoni
Michael Andrew "Mike" D'Antoni is an Italian-American former basketball player and is currently the head coach of the NBA's New York Knicks. While head coach of the Phoenix Suns, he won NBA Coach of the Year honors for the 2004–05 NBA season after the Suns posted 33 more wins than the previous...
gave him a more important role in the team; and that season Marconato won his first Italian Championship. After winning the Italian SuperCup title and MVP in 1997 and the Saporta Cup
Saporta Cup
Saporta Cup was the name of the second-tier level European professional club basketball competition, where the National Cup winners from all over Europe played against each other. The competition was organized by FIBA Europe...
in 1999, he was named the MVP of the Italian Cup Final Eight in 2000 (won by Benetton).
In the following years, he won two more Italian championships (2002, 2003), three more Italian Cups (2003, 2004, 2005) and played at two Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
Final Fours (2002, 2003). During his last season with Treviso, Marconato was also the captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
of the team. In the summer of 2005, he moved to the Spanish ACB League club FC Barcelona, together with his Italian national team teammate Gianluca Basile
Gianluca Basile
Gianluca Basile is an Italian professional basketball player. He is 192 cm tall and he weighs about 95 kg. He is considered to be one of the best 1990s and 2000s era Italian basketball players. He won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics. He was also the captain of the Italian...
.
Italian national team
Marconato played in 1994 with the Under-20 junior Italian national team, and he also participated at the Under-22 European Championship held in IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
in 1996. From then onward, he was a stable member of the senior Italian national team, which won the European Championship in 1999
EuroBasket 1999
-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:-5th place bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :...
, a bronze medal at the European Championship in 2003
Eurobasket 2003
-5th to 8th place:-Awards:-All-Tournament Team : Tony Parker Šarūnas Jasikevičius Saulius Štombergas Andrei Kirilenko Pau Gasol-Top scorers :# Pau Gasol 25.8# Andrei Kirilenko 23.1# Dirk Nowitzki 22.5# Mehmet Okur 18.7...
, and the silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games
Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena in Athens, Greece for the preliminary rounds, with the latter stages being held in the Olympic Indoor Hall at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex....
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. In addition, Marconato was also a member of the Italian roster at the World Championship in 2006
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee...
.
Pro career
- 3 Italian Junior Championships: (1991, 1992, 1994)
- 4 Italian SuperCup Championships: (1997, 2001, 2002, 2009)
- 4 EuroleagueEuroleagueEuroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
Final Fours: (1998, 2002, 2003, 2006) - Italian SuperCup MVP: (1997)
- 3 Italian ChampionshipsSerie A (basketball)Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
: (1997, 2002, 2003) - 1 Saporta CupSaporta CupSaporta Cup was the name of the second-tier level European professional club basketball competition, where the National Cup winners from all over Europe played against each other. The competition was organized by FIBA Europe...
Championship: (1999) - 5 Italian Cup Championships: (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010)
- Italian Cup MVP: (2000)
- 1 Spanish CupCopa del Rey de BaloncestoThe Copa del Rey de Baloncesto is an annual cup competition for Spanish basketball teams organized by Spain's top professional league, Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto. It was originally known as the Copa de España de Baloncesto and was first played in 1933. It was the first nationwide...
Championship: (2007)
Italian national team
- EuroBasket 1997EuroBasket 1997-Venues:The tournament was played at three venues in Spain. Girona and Badalona hosted the first and the second round, while the entire knockout stage was played at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona.-First round:-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:...
: Silver Medal - EuroBasket 1999EuroBasket 1999-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:-5th place bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :...
: Gold Medal - EuroBasket 2003Eurobasket 2003-5th to 8th place:-Awards:-All-Tournament Team : Tony Parker Šarūnas Jasikevičius Saulius Štombergas Andrei Kirilenko Pau Gasol-Top scorers :# Pau Gasol 25.8# Andrei Kirilenko 23.1# Dirk Nowitzki 22.5# Mehmet Okur 18.7...
: Bronze Medal - 2004 OlympicsBasketball at the 2004 Summer OlympicsBasketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena in Athens, Greece for the preliminary rounds, with the latter stages being held in the Olympic Indoor Hall at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex....
: Silver Medal