For 90 days get to know more about the International Faces of the NBA. Day 20 brings us...
Luigi Datome (F, Detroit Pistons), Italy
Height: 2.03 m, 6-foot-8| Weight: 97.5 kg, 215 pounds | Born: 27 November 1987
Luigi 'Gigi' Datome barged his way into the NBA on the strength of one world-class skill: shooting. From everywhere.
And heading into his second season in the league, he'll look to start making more shots. From anywhere.
After hitting 51.5 percent of his shots from the field, 39.4 percent from 3-point range and 92.6 percent from the foul line in his final season in Europe in 2012-13, Datome struggled to catch fire in 2013-14 in the NBA. His shooting numbers plummeted to 35.1 percent from the field, 80 percent from the line and just 17.9 percent from 3-point range.
Largely because his minutes did, too.
Datome played professionally for a decade before coming to Detroit, and hadn't averaged less than double-digit minutes since an eight-game Eurocup stretch in 2006-07. For a shooter with a game based on rhythm, Datome rarely had a chance to find it in his rookie year.
Enter new head coach Stan Van Gundy.
An offensive mastermind in his years with Miami and Orlando, SVG's Magic teams sat either first or second in the NBA in 3-pointers made in each of his five years at the helm. A Detroit team without a great deal of backcourt depth should open the door for Datome to see some more time. And the Pistons hope he'll also find the touch that made him one of the league's most interesting acquisitions last year.
Key Stats
2013-14 Season: GP: 34 | MIN: 7.0 | PTS: 2.4 | REB: 1.4 | FG%: 35.1
Season Highlight: Datome put up a career-high 13 points with four rebounds and two steals against Cleveland on 23 December 2013.
5 Things to Know:
1. Datome made his professional debut in 2003, playing for Montepaschi Siena at the age of 15.
2. He was named Italian League Most Valuable Player with Acea Virtus Roma in 2013.
3. After coming up in the Italian national development program, he's played with the Senior National Team since 2007.
4. He grew up idolizing another NBA player with an Italian past: Kobe Bryant. (per Detroit Free Press)
5. He plays the guitar in his spare time. (per Bleacher Report)
Check out Datome's photos and video in the LEAGUE section of NBA Game Time.
Previous: Samuel Dalembert (New York Knicks, Haiti) | Next Up: Nando De Colo (G, Toronto Raptors 2013-14, CSKA Moscow 2014-15, France)