Nico Mannion Agrees To Deal In Italy, With NBA-Out Clause

Warriors point guard Nico Mannion has agreed to a contract with Italian club Virtus Bologna, agent Bill Duffy told Jordan Schultz of ESPN.

The deal includes an NBA-out clause in 2022, per Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.

Mannion, 20, is 6-foot-2 and appeared in 30 games with the Warriors as a rookie last season, averaging 4.1 points and 2.3 assists. Duffy told Schultz that Mannion could return to the NBA in a year or two.

“We are excited for Nico to play in his mother’s home country of Italy,” Duffy told Schultz. “Nico is going to have a tremendous opportunity to get significant playing time to continue to develop his game. 

“His full intention is to return to the NBA but first wants to help Virtus Bologna win a EuroCup and Italian League champioship.”

The Warriors will continue to hold Mannion’s NBA rights. 

But the writing may have been on the wall for Mannion with the Warriors. Along with star guard Steph Curry and the likely return of Klay Thompson, as well as Jordan Poole, Damion Lee and rookie lottery pick Moses Moody, playing time may have been difficult to come by for Mannion.

“Virtus are the LBA’s reigning champs, the second-most titled club in Italy and one of the most storied teams in all of Europe,” Schultz wrote.