FC Barcelona combo guard Nicolas Laprovittola is having what could be an unforgettable season, both on and off the court. Last December, Argentina's soccer team beat France on penalties to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, giving the 33-year-old Laprovittola his first opportunity to see the Albiceleste become world champion. Now, Laprovittola has the chance to lift the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title for the first time in his career.
Should Barca come away from Kaunas, Lithuania with the EuroLeague trophy, Laprovittola will become the sixth Argentinean player to lift Europe's biggest prize. Some of his best friends are already EuroLeague champions, including Facundo Campazzo, the current point guard for Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, who won the EuroLeague with Real Madrid in 2015 and 2018. Even though they speak often, they prefer to speak about off-court topics.
"We speak every day, but not about who won what. I would rather talk about how our daughters are and how things are in general. We don't really speak about titles," Laprovittola revealed during Barca's media session at the Final Four.
In terms of other Argentinian players who have become a European champion, Andres "Chapu" Nocioni led Real to the 2014-15 EuroLeague title, earning Final Four MVP honors in the process. Before him, Manu Ginobili grabbed the 2001 Finals MVP, allowing the then-called Kinder Bologna, now Virtus Segafredo Bologna, to lift the EuroLeague trophy. Nocioni has played with Laprovittola in the Argentinian national team, and Laprovittola had some advice for him.
"He is a basketball commentator now! He is giving a lot of advice on Twitter," the Barca guard noted. "I know that I have his support and Facu's support, of course, being friends. We always want another Argentinean to win. That is very valuable, and I hope it pushes me to play a good game tomorrow."