Paolo Banchero recently swapped his commitment and opted to play for Team USA in the upcoming FIBA World Cup, spurning the Italian national team. Banchero had previously made a verbal commitment to play for Italy, however, he had a change of heart ahead of this summer’s World Cup in Manila, Philippines.
His decision left Italian Basketball Federation president Gianni Petrucci irritated. Petrucci sounded off on the “betrayal” from Banchero, labeling the late change as a “joke.”
“Betrayal is a big word, in sports these things happen and personally I’m used to it. I consider it a joke,” said Petrucci, in a quote translated from his native Italian, via Alessandro Luigi Maggi of Sportando.
