Napoli Basket (2016)
Neapolitan basketball club revived after predecessor's 2009 dissolution.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Napoli Basket (2016) is an Italian professional basketball team based in Naples, founded in August 2016 by Ciro Ruggiero as Cuore Napoli Basket after the dissolution of S.S. Basket Napoli. The club plays in the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroCup, and won its first Italian Cup in the 2023–24 season.
- founded
- August 2016
- location
- Naples, Italy
- league
- Lega Basket Serie A (LBA), EuroCup
- notable_honors
- Italian Cup winner (2023–24)
- current_owner
- Matt Rizzetta (principal owner, from 2025)
Lore & Background
The club was founded in August 2016 as Cuore Napoli Basket by Ciro Ruggiero after the corporate failure of S.S. Basket Napoli. It acquired the sporting title from Cilento Basket Agropoli to play in the 2016–17 Serie B, winning promotion to Serie A2 that same season and claiming its first Italian Cup in the National Basketball League. After relegation to Serie B in 2017–18, management passed to Federico Grassi and Francesco Tavassi, and the club was renamed Napoli Basket.
In June 2019, Napoli Basket purchased the sports title from Legnano Basket Knights to enter Serie A2. After a slow start, coach Stefano Sacripanti led the team to the second phase, canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020–21, Napoli won the Italian LNP Cup and secured promotion to LBA by defeating Udine in the playoff finals. The club won its first Italian Cup in February 2024, beating Olimpia Milano in the final.
In 2025, American entrepreneur Matt Rizzetta became principal owner, and the team was renamed Napoli Basketball. NBA executive James Laughlin was hired as General Manager. The club's 2024–25 season began with eleven straight losses, leading to the dismissal of head coach Igor Miličić and appointment of Giorgio Valli.
Reader's Guide
Napoli Basket (2016) represents the revival of top-tier basketball in Naples after the dissolution of S.S. Basket Napoli in 2009. Its rapid rise from Serie B to LBA within five years, capped by an Italian Cup victory in 2024, underscores the club's resilience and ambition. The 2025 acquisition by American investors, including Matt Rizzetta, signals a new era of international ownership and organizational restructuring, with NBA front-office hires aiming to elevate the club's competitiveness. The team's history reflects the volatility of Italian basketball, with financial struggles, relegations, and coaching changes, yet also demonstrates the potential for rebirth through strategic title purchases and player acquisitions. Its significance lies in re-establishing Naples as a basketball hub and in the ongoing transition to a globally oriented management model.
Did You Know?
- The club was originally named Cuore Napoli Basket when founded in August 2016.
- It won its first Italian Cup in the 2023–24 season by defeating Olimpia Milano in the final.
- In 2025, American entrepreneur Matt Rizzetta became principal owner, and the team was renamed Napoli Basketball.
- The 2024–25 season began with eleven consecutive losses, leading to the dismissal of head coach Igor Miličić.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Napoli Basket (2016)?
It is a professional basketball club based in Naples, Italy, established in August 2016 by Ciro Ruggiero under the name Cuore Napoli Basket to revive competitive basketball in the city after the 2009 collapse of S.S. Basket Napoli.
Why was Napoli Basket (2016) created?
The club was founded to fill the void left when S.S. Basket Napoli dissolved in 2009, giving Naples a new professional basketball identity roughly seven years later.
Which competitions does Napoli Basket (2016) compete in?
The team plays in Italy's top domestic league, the Lega Basket Serie A, and also takes part in the EuroCup at the continental level.
What is Napoli Basket (2016)'s biggest honor?
The club captured the Italian Cup during the 2023–24 season, marking the first major domestic trophy in the franchise's history.
Who is the current owner of Napoli Basket (2016)?
Matt Rizzetta has served as the principal owner of the club since 2025, taking over leadership of the Naples-based team.
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