Marco Belinelli came back to familiar grounds when the San Antonio Spurs came calling, shortly agreeing to terms on a two-year, $12 million deal with the club at the start of free agency.
“When I heard about this opportunity to return to San Antonio, I didn’t think twice about it because I knew it would be great to come back,” Belinelli said Tuesday via phone from his home in Bologna, Italy, according to Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News.
Belinelli played a major part in the Spurs' last title in 2014, taking down a behemoth in the three-headed beast that was the Miami Heat — one that eventually dissolved the partnership between LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in South Beach.
“The basketball we played was amazing,” said Marco Belinelli, who counts the clutch 3-pointer he hit in Game 3 of the Spurs' five-game victory as the biggest shot of his career. “There was no selfishness, everybody moving the ball.
“Winning a championship with that great team was amazing. Nobody is going to take that away from me.”
Belinelli not only fit into the international flavor that the Spurs have brought to the league, but also thrived in Gregg Popovich's system, able to give the likes of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili their last ring.
This Spurs team looks vastly different four years down the road, but the Italian marksman is just as excited to join the team as he was playing from 2013-15.
“It will be a great fit, a great situation. I really am excited about it,” said Belinelli, who will see some familiar faces along with some new ones. “I can't wait to play with LaMarcus (Aldridge).”
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