For 90 days, get to know more about the international faces of the NBA. Day 21 brings...
Nando De Colo (G, Toronto Raptors 2013-14, CSKA Moscow 2014-15), France
Height: 1.96 m, 6-foot-5 | Weight: 89 kg, 195 pounds | Born: 23 June, 1987
When it comes to basketball, the world is Nando De Colo's stomping ground. He's taken his talents from France to Spain, then the U.S., Canada and most recently, Russia.
De Colo left his home at 15 to pursue a professional basketball career and has been moving ever since. He's found a reliable guide that helps him in any new city. "Now we live in 2014 and you got everything if you have the Internet. You can find everything you want," De Colo told Yard Barker.
His professional career began in his native France, where he played in the ProA League and the French League All-Star games in 2007 and 2008. While in Spain, he led Valencia BC to the 2010 Eurocup Championship and the ACB playoffs in each of his three seasons with the team from 2009-2012.
His NBA assignment started with the San Antonio Spurs in the 2012-13 season and included multiple trips to the D-League. Over an 11-game stint, he averaged 22.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. But the Spurs traded him to the Raptors, the league's only team based in Canada, on 14 February, 2014.
De Colo now brings his specialized skillset as a point guard and shooting guard to Russia as he signed with CSKA Moscow in this year's off-season. This move adds to his decorated international career.
Achievements/Awards:
- FIBA EuroBasket gold medal (2013)
- FIBA EuroBasket silver medal (2011)
- EuroCup Champion (2010)
- All-EuroCup First Team (2010)
- 2x French League All-Star (2007-2008)
- French League All-Star Game MVP (2007)
Key Stats:
2013-14 Season: GP: 47 | MPG: 10.5 | PTS: 3.8 | REB: 1.6 | AST: 1.4
Season Highlight: In 28 minutes, De Colo matched his career-high of 15 points on 8 Feb, 2014 against the Hornets.
5 Things To Know
1. He was born in Sainte-Catherine-les-Arras, a small-town in Northern France.
2. He is a big football fan.
3. He is the first Frenchman to play for CSKA Moscow.
4. He has a basketball training camp for youth and amateur professionals called NDC Basketball.
5. His parents were born and raised in Portugal.
Check out De Colo's photos and video in the LEAGUE section of NBA Game Time.
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