Niccolò Mannion’s career took an unexpected turn after a severe illness following the Tokyo Olympics.
Highlights
- Mannion’s career trajectory shifted dramatically after contracting a severe intestinal infection during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which caused significant weight loss and health complications that influenced his decision to leave the NBA for European basketball.
- Despite being drafted by the Golden State Warriors, Mannion chose to forgo another two-way contract to pursue more substantial playing opportunities in Europe, demonstrating his prioritization of development and playing time over staying in the NBA system.
- After overcoming his health crisis, Mannion has shown resilience by rebuilding his career through multiple European clubs, ultimately landing with prestigious Olimpia Milano where he now competes at the highest levels of European basketball.
Niccolò “Nico” Mannion burst onto the basketball scene as one of the most exciting young prospects in recent years.
Born on March 14, 2001, in Siena, Italy, to former NBA player Pace Mannion and Italian mother Gaia Bianchi, Mannion represents a perfect blend of American and Italian basketball heritage.
Despite growing up primarily in the United States, he chose to represent Italy in international competitions, showcasing his pride in his Italian roots.
Mannion’s basketball journey began at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona, where he quickly established himself as an extraordinary talent.
He earned multiple accolades during high school, including MaxPreps All-American honors and two Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year awards.
His senior season was particularly impressive, as he averaged a staggering 43.4 points per game and led Pinnacle to a second Class 6A state championship.
As a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top point guards in his class, Mannion committed to the University of Arizona for his collegiate career.
During his freshman season with the Wildcats, he demonstrated his skills by averaging 14.0 points and 5.3 assists per game, earning All-Pac-12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team honors.
His impressive performance in the Wooden Legacy tournament, where he was named tournament MVP, highlighted his ability to perform under pressure.
After just one season at Arizona, Mannion declared for the 2020 NBA Draft, where the Golden State Warriors selected him with the 48th overall pick.
He split time between the Warriors and their G-League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, averaging 4.1 points and 2.3 assists in 30 NBA games.
Mannion also represented Italy at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 assists while helping Italy reach the semifinals.
Niccolò Mannion’s Career Takes An Unexpected Turn After Severe Illness
What seemed like a promising start to Mannion’s professional career took an unexpected turn following the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
While representing Italy in the Olympic Games, Mannion contracted a severe intestinal infection that would dramatically alter his career path.
According to reports, Mannion began experiencing health issues during the Olympics but initially ignored the symptoms.
The exact cause remains uncertain, though some sources attributed it to salmonella from contaminated food.
In his own words during a podcast interview, Mannion stated,
“I got salmonella from a piece of rotten chicken or meat, a week before the training camp for the Olympics. It then evolved into an intestinal disease.”
backdoorpodcast
Apparently Nico Mannion got an intestinal virus while in Tokyo for the olympic games and will now be missing several weeks due to the stomach virus. Looks like he’s lost a lot of weight. Hoping he gets better soon. pic.twitter.com/poaB3HL7pm
— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) September 6, 2021
Despite feeling unwell, Mannion played through the Olympic qualifiers and the Games themselves.
Only after returning home did he discover the severity of his condition.
The situation deteriorated rapidly when he arrived in Italy, where he spent a week in the hospital.
The illness caused dramatic weight loss, with Mannion later revealing he weighed just 60 kilograms (approximately 132 pounds) when discharged from the hospital.
This health crisis coincided with a major career decision. Rather than accepting another two-way contract with the Warriors, which would have meant more time in the G-League, Mannion signed with Italian club Virtus Bologna in August 2021.
The timing proved unfortunate, as his severe illness prevented him from participating in the team’s training camp.
Photos of an alarmingly thin Mannion began circulating on social media, causing concern among fans and speculation in the press.
Virtus Bologna CEO Luca Baraldi repeatedly addressed the situation, expressing frustration with how the media portrayed Mannion’s condition while assuring that the young guard was on the road to recovery.
Mannion eventually made a full recovery under the care of specialists at Sant’Orsola Hospital in Bologna.
He regained 17 pounds and gradually returned to basketball activities, though the setback significantly impacted his first season with Virtus Bologna.
After two seasons with Virtus Bologna, during which the team won the EuroCup and qualified for the EuroLeague, Mannion signed with Spanish club Saski Baskonia in June 2023.
However, this stint proved brief, as he and the club mutually agreed to terminate his contract in December 2023 after he averaged just 2.0 points in 12 games.
Mannion then returned to Italy, signing with Pallacanestro Varese for the remainder of the 2023-2024 season.
His performance improved significantly, helping the team avoid relegation. Impressed by his resurgence, Olimpia Milano, one of Italy’s premier basketball clubs, signed Mannion in November 2024 to a multi-year contract.
Today, Mannion competes at the highest level of European basketball with Olimpia Milano in both the Italian Lega Basket Serie A and the prestigious EuroLeague.
His career path, while different from the NBA trajectory many expected, showcases his resilience in overcoming significant health challenges.
Despite setbacks, Mannion remains a promising talent at just 24 years old.
His net worth is estimated to be between $1-2 million, accumulated through his NBA contract, European club deals, and endorsements.
This figure represents just the beginning for a player who still has many productive years ahead in his professional career.
Additional Information
- Mannion accelerated his education by taking online summer courses to graduate early from high school, demonstrating his commitment to advancing his basketball career as quickly as possible.
- During one remarkable high school game against Shadow Mountain High School, he scored 37 points including a game-winning three-pointer, ending their 73-game winning streak against Arizona opponents—a performance described as one that “will go down in Arizona high school basketball lore.”
- Despite being initially selected for training with the United States national under-16 team, Mannion chose to represent Italy internationally after not making the final U.S. roster, becoming the fourth-youngest player in Italian national team history when he debuted at age 17.
