In his six years with Barcelona, the Italian has become the foreigner that has made the most ACB appearances for the basketball team, a total of 204. Basile has also won 1 Euroleague, 2 ACB Ligas and 3 Copas del Rey.

The former Climamio Bologna player has been one of the stars of the team in recent years. The shooting guard and small and point forward teamed up with others of the ilk of Juan Carlos Navarro and Roger Grimau to create one of the strongest offences in European basketball, and his professionalism and dedication have been an example to everyone.

Brought by Savic

Gianluca Basile joined Barça in July 2005 after making a big name of himself in seven years at Climamio, brought here by the man who had coached him in Italy, Zoran Savic. 'Baso' soon made his mark at his new club with his excellent 3-point delivery and also his strength in defence. In his first year the side went all the way to the Final Four in Prague, but were beaten in the semi finals by CSKA Moscow.

Two improving seasons

In 2006/07, Basile played a starring role in the final of the Liga ACB, having already won the Copa del Rey in Malaga.

In 2007/08, his role was bigger following Navarro’s departure to the NBA. He averaged 27 minutes and appeared in another ACB final following an average 9.7 points in the regular season with 6.6 in the Playoffs. It was that year that he posted his best ever performance for Barça in game two of the Euroleague playoff with Maccabi Tel-Aviv, where he got 34 points, with 6 threes, 5 rebounds and an evaluation of 31.

First ACB title

Basile finally won the Liga ACB in 2008/09 under Xavi Pascual. He will be best remembered for game one of the final series with TAU Cerámica, when with two seconds left and the score at 80-79, he scored a 3-pointer to seal the match. Barcelona went on to clinch the title at the Palau Blaugrana in game four.

Euroleague at last

The next was a near perfect season in which all that was missing was another Liga ACB, where the team lost the final to Baskonia. But they already had four titles in the bag – the Catalan League, the ACB Supercup, the Copa del Rey and the Euroleague, Basile’s most successful season ever.

Finally winning the Euroleague was his crowning glory though, 15 years after first turning pro. It all happened in Paris, where the man from Ruvo di Puglia scored two threes in the final against Olympiakos, who were soundly defeated 86-68 .

Toughest season

The Italian’s final season at the club was a tough one. A double metatarsal injury kept him sidelined for seven months, although throughout all this time he never left the team’s side and was always there to offer his encouragement. Such loyalty was rewarded in delightful fashion after Barcelona won the Copa del Rey in Madrid and captains Roger Grimau and Juan Carlos Navarro decided that the Italian, still on crutches, should be the man to lift the trophy first.

Testimonial

Gianluca Basile will be leaving the club with full honours. Depending on where he goes next, the club will invite him back for a midweek or weekend match where the fans will get the chance to applaud, once more, a man who has generated so many wonderful memories at the Palau Blaugrana.