Marco Belinelli retires after a 39-year journey that began in Italy and blossomed into an NBA championship legacy with the San Antonio Spurs. Drafted by Golden State in 2007, he found his footing with Toronto before becoming a pivotal role player for the Spurs, helping them win the 2014 title as a trusted floor spacer. His path meandered through the league as a reliable bench gun, a reputation reinforced by a star-making 2013-14 season that saw him post 11.4 points on strong shooting splits and a 43.0% three-point mark during the run to the championship. After his NBA days, Belinelli returned to Virtus Bologna, winning titles and earning league MVP honors in 2024, closing his career with a storybook finale.

For fantasy enthusiasts, Belinelli’s arc underscores the enduring value of elite shooting and floor-spacers who can elevate a second unit in clutch moments. His career highlights a player whose efficiency and versatility translated across continents, offering a lens into how international backsides can impact modern lineups. His retirement marks the end of an era for a European guard who etched Italian basketball into NBA championship lore, while also illustrating how a player can evolve from a rotation piece to a globe-trotting champion and mentor.

Marco Belinelli, the Italian wing who spent 13 seasons in the NBA and carved out a storied role as a lethal bench shooter, has retired at 39. A Golden State draftee in 2007, Belinelli's career blossomed with the San Antonio Spurs, where he helped spark the 2014 title run by pouring in timely three-pointers and providing veteran poise off the bench. Across 13 seasons he averaged 9.7 points and shot 37.6% from three, a signature mark of his floor-spacing value. He closed his NBA chapter after the 2019-20 season, then continued his career in Italy with Virtus Bologna, cementing a lasting legacy as a dependable shooter who could swing games in bursts.

Belinelli’s journey touched many stops—Toronto, New Orleans (Hornets), Chicago, Spurs, Sacramento, Charlotte, Atlanta and Philadelphia—each adding layers to a career defined by shooting efficiency and playoff experience. For fantasy minds, his retirement isn’t a direct roster concern, but it underscores the enduring value of 3-and-D wings who can provide scoring bursts off the bench. His path also illustrates how European talents transition to the NBA and how that profile can influence the importance of floor-spacing in today’s lineups.

In a landscape that increasingly prizes 3-point gravity and bench versatility, Belinelli’s legacy serves as a reminder of the payoff from players who can space the floor, defend multiple positions, and answer the bell in big moments. The Spurs’ 2014 championship era remains a touchstone for bench-shooting efficiency, and Belinelli’s career offers a blueprint for evaluating similar players in fantasy leagues and in the international-to-NBA pipeline at large.

Bobby Webster’s contract extension makes him Toronto’s immutable head of basketball operations, with no president to replace Masai Ujiri. MLSE stressed in-house leadership, signaling stability and a clear plan to continue roster-building and culture work. The move follows a summer review of external candidates and reinforces Webster’s leadership as the franchise eyes sustained competitiveness.

The piece highlights Webster’s role in crafting the 2019 title roster and a current core that includes Scottie Barnes and other talents, while noting friction rumors surrounding Ujiri. Expect continuity in player development, identity, and front-office strategy as the Raptors navigate a competitive landscape without a formal president.

Overall, the Raptors’ path under Webster emphasizes a steady hand, balanced rosters, and a culture-first approach, with the organization choosing to empower in-house leadership rather than pursue a marquee external hire. Las Vegas discussions and the absence of a Ujiri replacement frame this as a deliberate long-term play rather than a quick fix.

Bobby Webster will continue as Toronto's general manager and head of basketball operations after an extension, with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment backing a stable leadership path as no team president is named this off-season.

In a shift following Masai Ujiri's dismissal, Webster is positioned as the primary front-office voice, while Calgary hosts fall camp and a Vancouver preseason opener against Denver, underscoring a practical build toward the coming season and continued roster development.