Sandro Gamba
Inducted:
2006
Stats
6 ft 2.75 in (1.90 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
Born
3 June 1932
Milan, Italy
Position
Coach
College
NA
Sandro Gamba is the patriarch of Italian basketball and one of the most respected tactical minds in European history. His life in the sport began with a brush with death; at age 12, his hand was shredded by machine-gun fire during the final days of WWII, and he took up basketball as a form of physical therapy to regain use of his fingers. He went on to become a powerhouse player, winning 10 Italian League titles with Olimpia Milano and captaining Italy in the 1960 Olympics.
He famously led Varese to back-to-back European Cups (now EuroLeague) in 1975 and 1976. However, his greatest achievement came on the international stage, where he led the Italian National Team to a silver medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and a historic gold at the 1983 EuroBasket. Known for his "web of friendships" with NBA coaches and his commitment to defensive excellence, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Gamba's Awards and Records
- FIBA Hall of Fame (2010)
- Italian Basketball Hall of Fame (2006)
- 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors (2008)
- 2x FIBA European Selection Coach (1991)
- Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- European Cup Winners' Cup (1971, 1972 as Assistant)
- Most successful coach in Italian basketball history
NBA Teams
Olimpia Milano (1965–1973 as assistant)
Varèse (1973–1977)
Auxilium Torino (1977–1980)
Virtus Bologna (1985–1987)
National Team
Italy (1979–1985)
NBA Stats
Italian League Titles (Player):
10 (All with Olimpia Milano)
EuroLeague Titles (Coach):
2 (1975, 1976)
Italian League Titles (Coach):
2 (1974, 1977)
Olympic Medals (Coach):
1 (Silver, 1980)
EuroBasket Medals (Coach):
3 (Gold '83, Silver '91, Bronze '85)
Career Coaching Wins (Italy):
179 Wins in 279 Games