What Happened to Nando de Colo's NBA Career and Where Is He Now?

I still remember the first time I saw Nando de Colo play during his brief NBA stint - there was something special about his court vision that made me think he'd stick around longer than he ultimately did. Looking back at his career trajectory reminds me of how unpredictable professional basketball can be, especially when you're competing at the highest level. The recent preseason press conference at Gloria Maris in Greenhills actually got me thinking about de Colo's journey, particularly when they discussed how certain teams remain perennial contenders - much like how some players consistently find ways to excel regardless of where they play.

When de Colo entered the NBA in 2012 with the San Antonio Spurs, I thought he'd become the next great international guard to thrive under Gregg Popovich's system. He came with impressive European credentials, having won the EuroLeague Rising Star award in 2010 and establishing himself as one of France's premier guards. His first season showed flashes of that potential - he appeared in 72 games, averaging 3.8 points and 1.9 assists in about 12 minutes per game. Those numbers might not jump off the page, but if you watched him play, you could see the basketball IQ that made him special. The problem was, and I say this as someone who followed his career closely, the NBA game just didn't perfectly align with his strengths. He wasn't explosive enough athletically to consistently create separation against NBA defenders, and his three-point shooting hovered around 34% - decent but not exceptional for someone his size.

What fascinates me about de Colo's NBA experience is how it contrasts with his European dominance. After brief stops in Toronto and returning to Europe, he transformed into arguably the best player outside the NBA. I've watched countless EuroLeague games over the years, and de Colo's development with CSKA Moscow was remarkable. He won EuroLeague MVP in 2016, something only 14 players have achieved since 2005. He led CSKA to multiple championships and became the franchise's all-time leading scorer in EuroLeague play with 2,438 points across 175 games. Those aren't just good numbers - they're historic. It makes you wonder if the NBA's style during that era undervalued certain skills that thrive in European basketball.

The discussion about perennial contenders at that Gloria Maris press conference resonates when considering de Colo's career. The Fighting Maroons and Green Archers maintain their status through consistent excellence and adaptation - qualities de Colo demonstrated magnificently in Europe. He didn't just become a good EuroLeague player; he became arguably the most decorated French player in European basketball history. He's won four EuroLeague titles (2016, 2019 with CSKA Moscow, 2023 with ASVEL, and 2024 with Fenerbahçe), two EuroLeague MVP awards, and made the All-EuroLeague First Team three times. When you stack up those accomplishments, it's clear he found his perfect basketball home.

I've always believed that judging a player's career solely by NBA success misses the bigger picture. De Colo's case perfectly illustrates this. While he only played 119 NBA games across two seasons, averaging 3.8 points and 1.8 assists, he's achieved legendary status in European basketball. His annual salary with Fenerbahçe reportedly reaches €3.2 million, making him one of the highest-paid players in Europe. More importantly, he's maintained peak performance into his late 30s - something that might not have happened had he continued battling for rotation spots in the NBA.

Where is he now? Currently playing for Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Basketball Super League and EuroLeague, de Colo continues to defy age. At 37, he's still putting up impressive numbers - in the 2023-2024 EuroLeague season, he averaged 12.4 points and 4.2 assists while shooting 42% from three-point range. What's more impressive is his leadership role on a championship-contending team. Having watched his evolution over the past decade, I'd argue he's become the prototype for the modern European combo guard - efficient, intelligent, and clutch in big moments.

Reflecting on his journey, I can't help but feel the NBA's loss was European basketball's gain. The league's emphasis on athleticism during the early 2010s meant players like de Colo, who relied more on skill and intelligence, often didn't get the opportunities they deserved. Meanwhile, European basketball embraced his unique talents and provided the platform for him to become an all-time great. His story reminds me that success isn't always about reaching the most prestigious league - it's about finding the environment where your skills can truly flourish. As that preseason conference highlighted, some teams and players just have that enduring quality that transcends specific leagues or moments in time. De Colo's career, though not NBA-centric, represents one of international basketball's most compelling success stories of the past decade.