Vincenzo Esposito: The first Italian to score in the NBA and a Fortitudo legend

If Marco Belinelli is the first (and so far only) Italian to have won a title in the NBA, Stefano Rusconi, in the now distant 1995, was the first Italian to play it. But do you know who is the first Italian to have scored a point in the world of star-spangled professionals? Him, Esposito Vincenzo. One of the most spectacular players seen in the Fortitudo shirt.

Born in Caserta on March 1, 1969, Vincenzo is a predestined one. And, perhaps, a documentary film should be made of his life. In the meantime, there have already been at least a couple of books that narrate his exploits, between baskets and championships - the first for Caserta -, headers and impossible shots (for everyone, but not for him). Perhaps dull first times, followed by aggressive second times. But also fantastic first times like that time in Piazza Azzarita - the fans were sure to witness something unique - he scored 38 in twenty minutes against Cagiva Varese.

Vincenzo the predestined, because he has the opportunity to debut in A1 at 15 years old. And he was able to do it because Caserta, in the 15s, relied on the most visionary coach there could be, Boscia Tanjevic. The shirt is that of Juve Caserta, held in place by tape because Vincenzino is only 15 years old and in the number XNUMX shirt, which belonged to an already formed teammate, he dances inside it.

The debut, told by the person directly involved, is hilarious. Today, in the era of political correctness, someone would be inclined to say that Esposito was the object of bullying.

Boscia turns to his bench and what does he say? "Yes, I'm talking to you, asshole. Get up and go on the field." Esposito has legs that go 'giacomo-giacomo', but he answers the call with 4 points: Caserta wins. In 1991, in Milan, wearing the Caserta jersey, he wins the championship for the Campania club. Better yet, he sees him win, because in that decisive match, Vincenzino hurts his right knee. Lying on a stretcher, waiting for tests, he grittes his teeth - the pain is very strong - and watches his teammates win. The ligaments in his right knee have blown out and, thanks to that, he begins to deal with the Two Towers. Yes, because the re-education is followed by Enzo Grandi, the professor, former athletic trainer for Gigi Radice's Bologna and then, for a lifetime, Ettore Messina's right-hand man at Virtus.

In 1993, Fortitudo had just won promotion to A1: behind the scenes, Giorgio Seràgnoli was acting, dreaming of giving the championship to L'Aquila. And the first boom purchase, of the Seràgnoli era, was precisely the urchin from Caserta. Five billion old lire, to push Esposito away from his Caserta and bring him to the shadow of the Two Towers. The first year - that of -6, handicapped start - paired with Corradino Fumagalli, the second with Sale Djordjevic.

An idol of the Fossa dei Leoni, Vincenzo immediately found himself in tune with the new fans. "Maybe because I was a bit of a rascal," he laughs years later. There were the 41 points with Benetton on December 12, 1993. The match that consecrated him in history (Fortitudo) and brought him the nickname El Diablo took place a week earlier, on December 5, 1993, in Pistoia where, a few years later, he would coach. Zero points in the first half: Sergio Scariolo, inflexible, confined him to the bench. What they said during the break remains a matter of debate (and urban legends). The fact is that after the nothingness of the first half, the 29 points arrived in the second half. Fortitudo won and Vincenzino became El Diablo.

Maybe he is not an upright defender: but in attack, when he is assisted by the gods of the baskets - and this happens often - he finds incredible solutions. Incredible for everyone. Not for Enzino, who drags Fortitudo to the quarterfinals. A year later, there is the semifinal: there is what he defines as his best game in Fortitudo. On March 25, 1995, Filodoro beats Varese 91-88. Enzino closes with 46 points (5/9 from two, 8/15 from three, 12/12 from free throws), 38 of which in the first half alone. With 24,1 points on average, he is the best Italian bomber. Vincenzino, in June of the same year, is also, in terms of points scored, the best scorer for Italy (led by Ettore Messina) at the European Championships. He flies to the NBA, wears the jersey of the Toronto Raptors and in Canada discovers how large the Italian community is (and how many Esposito families there are).

The contract is three years, he even gets compliments from a certain Magic Johnson. Then he returns to Italy. Pesaro, Pistoia, Andrea Costa Imola, Udine, Gran Canaria, Virtus Roma, Murcia, Casale, Capo d'Orlando, Gragnano and Gira Ozzano. Unstoppable. Even with the referees. Like that time in Forlì, during a Coppa Italia final eight, he contests a referee in his own way. Vincenzino plays for Virtus Roma, against Scavolini Pesaro. The referees whistle for a foul committed, in their opinion, on the late Alphonso Ford. And Vincenzino? In Caserta dialect, playing on the Ford-forte assonance: "Referee: this is Ford, but I am Vincenzo Esposito". Inimitable.

After the 'conversion' of the bench - from a sublime and inimitable striker to a theoretician of defense - he has put aside the idea of ​​coaching. He lives in Gran Canaria and often goes around in a camper having fun surfing. As he once did (having fun) with a basketball.

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