DETROIT — Simone Fontecchio didn’t always like the nickname “Tek.”
It was given to him when he arrived in Utah as a 26-year-old rookie and his Jazz teammates didn’t know how to pronounce his name.
“When I first got to the NBA, Malik Beasley and Jason Terry started calling me that,” Fontecchio told The Athletic. “I was like, ‘Guys, I don’t like it.’ No one has ever called me that. Then it got stuck to me. Now I like it. It’s fun.”
Now in Detroit, Fontecchio‘s nickname has traveled with him. So did his jump shot and sneaky athleticism. Fontecchio has been a welcomed addition to the Pistons, as he’s averaging 15.1 points while shooting 48 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3 in seven games. Fontecchio will be a restricted free agent this summer. However, Detroit has interest in keeping the forward around for a long time. The interest is mutual for Fontecchio.
With Fontecchio likely to be in the Motor City for the foreseeable future, I wanted to learn more about his upbringing, his journey through basketball and more. In turn, you all get to learn more about “Tek.”
Enjoy.
(Editor’s note: This conversation has been edited for both clarity and length)
Playing ball and growing up in Europe, was the goal always to make it to the NBA or did that come later in your life?
I would say it was never really the goal. For an Italian kid, there’s always been like five or seven Italian guys who have really played in the NBA. Growing up, it’s something you feel is not reachable. It’s so difficult and hard to get here. You’re thinking about playing in the Italian league, EuroLeague or maybe the national team. It maybe became a goal when I played in the Olympics in 2021. People started to see me, recognize me. At that point, I was still young and figured I still had a chance. I was 24. The next season I put it as a goal and tried to get there.
I got close to seeing it as a goal when I was 18 or 19, around the time you start thinking about the NBA Draft. There were a couple of scouts who came and saw me. I did a workout with the Celtics. We ended up taking my name out of the draft because, probably, they didn’t think I was ready. I like the path that I’ve taken. I wouldn’t change anything. I like how everything turned out.
So is that Olympics what put you on the radars of NBA teams?
I was on the radar when I was a little younger, but then I disappeared from the radar. The Olympic Games puts me back on the NBA radar.
Why do you think you disappeared?
I went to Milan, signed a three-year deal, and didn’t really play that much. When you’re that young and don’t get to play that much, they don’t have the chance to see you. I wouldn’t change anything.
You came over late, at the age of 26, I believe. At that point in your career, do you seriously contemplate not even making the jump?
It was a no-brainer to be honest. Once you see that train passing you, you just want to catch it. I just thought, ‘It’s a three-year deal. I’m going to do everything I can to make this work. If it doesn’t, I’ll just go back to Europe. It’s OK. I tried my best.’ I’ve been putting in a lot of work the last two years. I’m thankful to be in the position that I am now.
There’s a significant time difference between here and Europe. How much NBA were you able to watch growing up?
When I was a kid, and older, the first NBA games I started watching were the 2006 Finals. From that point on, I started to stay up at night and watch, especially the playoffs.
Were you watching live or taped?
It would be like 3 a.m. or 4 a.m., and I’d just get up and watch it with my brother. It was kind of cool. I remember the 2016 Game 7. I stayed up and watched that. My brother and I used to do that; we’d get up and watch the finals. We’d watch the All-Star Game sometimes. It’s a cool memory with my brother.
Who is your favorite player of all-time?
I think just because I started watching during the 2006 finals, it’s Dwyane Wade. It was kind of cool that when I got to Utah that he had ownership in the Jazz.
Did you get to tell him he was your favorite player?
I did.
What did he say?
I don’t know. I think he gets that a lot. He was cool. We got shots up together. It was cool.
Do people always pronounce your name wrong?
People struggle a lot with it, especially television announcers. Some of them are very ignorant, I’d say, especially my last name. I saw a clip from last game and someone with the Bulls did a terrible job. I hope now they know after that game.
Who is the greatest Italian player to play in the NBA and who is the greatest Italian player we may not know about?
For sure it’s Danilo Gallinari. The things he accomplished, the type of career he had … it’s remarkable. He’s probably the best to ever play the game from Italy. Even though he never won, I hope he gets a chance now with the Bucks.
As for Italian players people over here might not know about, it’s Dino Meneghin and Antonello Riva. Riva is the top scorer in national team history. He’s got like 4,000 points and the second guy has like 2,000.
Appreciate you doing this.
Thank you.
(Top photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)