Simone Fontecchio is expected to remain with the Miami Heat for another season, delaying any potential return to the EuroLeague.
The Italian forward attracted significant interest from several European clubs over the past few weeks. After all, there is hardly a EuroLeague contender that wouldn’t welcome a player with Fontecchio’s experience, physicality and perimeter shooting. His skill set has been familiar to European fans for years, especially through his consistent performances with the Italian national team in FIBA competitions.
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan emerged as one of the clubs most interested in bringing him back. Fontecchio wore the Milan jersey from 2016 to 2019, and a reunion was reportedly high on the club’s agenda. According to Italian media, newly appointed head coach Peppe Poeta even met the 31-year-old in Paros earlier this month in an attempt to convince him to return to Europe.
For now, though, those talks will remain just that.
According to ESPN, the former Baskonia forward has agreed to a new one-year contract with the Miami Heat, keeping him in the NBA. Erik Spoelstra will retain a proven floor spacer who shot 37.5% from beyond the arc last season, giving Miami another reliable perimeter threat alongside what is expected to be the team’s new star pairing of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
The upcoming campaign will mark Fontecchio’s fifth season in the NBA. After spending two years with the Utah Jazz (2022-24) and one with the Detroit Pistons, he is now preparing for his second year in Miami.
In 263 NBA appearances, the Italian has averaged 7.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, establishing himself as a dependable rotation player at the highest level.
His NBA career-high came in 2024, when he poured in 27 points for the Pistons against the Dallas Mavericks.
Financially, Fontecchio has already earned nearly $14 million during his time with the Jazz and Pistons, while his salary with the Heat last season stood at $8.3 million. The financial terms of his new agreement with Miami have yet to be disclosed.