Olimpia Milano announced the signing of Garrison Mathews, with the 30-year-old sharpshooter heading to Europe ready to deliver… countless three-point bombs.
Olimpia Milano has added a player with seven NBA seasons and more than 300 games under his belt, investing in one of the most essential and difference-making skills at the highest level: shooting. At the age of 30, Garrison Mathews is leaving the United States for the first time in his career to move to Italy, bringing with him the one skill that kept him in the best league in the world for years — and one that could become even more valuable with the shorter three-point line in European basketball.
The 1.96m shooting guard played for the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers, making a total of 329 NBA appearances. His averages of 6.4 points and 1.7 rebounds hardly tell the full story of the player he is. His 38.2% shooting from NBA three-point range is far more representative (or impressive, if you prefer), as Mathews carved out a role for himself in the league as a pure shooting specialist.
After all, he finished three different NBA seasons shooting at least 40% from beyond the arc. More importantly, though, is how he gets those shots. Mathews is first and foremost an excellent spot-up shooter who can punish defenses immediately in catch-and-shoot situations. He does not need to hold onto the ball, take multiple dribbles or have possessions run through him to find his rhythm. If he catches the ball with his feet set, he needs very little time to rise and fire.
His extremely quick release is a major part of that. Against a shooter like Mathews, even a closeout that arrives a fraction of a second late can prove… costly for the defense. At the same time, his shooting range comfortably extends beyond EuroLeague distances. Having spent years shooting from the NBA three-point line — 7.25m and even further out — he can stretch the floor for Olimpia and force defenders to stay attached to him well beyond the 6.75m line.
His impact, however, is not limited to the shots he actually takes. Mathews knows how to move without the ball, change angles, relocate after making the initial pass and force his defender to remain constantly aware of where he is. That off-ball activity can create valuable spacing for Olimpia’s playmakers, as one unnecessary help rotation or a brief lapse in concentration can be enough to give him the window he needs.
That is also why Peppe Poeta added him to a backcourt already loaded with quality, featuring players such as Leandro Bolmaro, Darius Thompson, Marko Guduric and Devon Hall.
Mathews himself sounded ready for the first European challenge of his career: “I’m excited to embark on a new chapter in my career, and I truly appreciate the opportunity that Olimpia Milano and its coaching staff have decided to offer me. I’m eager to get to work and help the team in any way I can.”
In reality, though, everyone knows the first thing Olimpia will expect from him. Mathews arrives in the EuroLeague as a proven NBA-level sharpshooter who does not need the ball in his hands to influence an offense. With the spacing he provides, his off-ball movement, quick release and — above all — his career 38.2% shooting from NBA three-point range, opposing defenses will know from the very beginning that they cannot afford to take their eyes off him for even a second.