Matthews arrives in Milan to strengthen the outside shooting
Olimpia Milan continues its summer reconstruction with the addition of Garrison Mathews, a 29-year-old American shooting guard coming from the NBA. With 329 games in the North American league and a 38.2% accuracy in three-pointers throughout his career, Mathews crosses the Atlantic for the first time to compete in the EuroLeague.
The Milanese club has closed the signing of Garrison Mathews, thus confirming the magnitude of their commitment to reinforcing the squad. The American shooting guard, whose contract duration with the Italian club has not been disclosed, arrives after completing his cycle in the NBA after seven seasons spread among four different franchises. At 29 years old, Mathews faces a new chapter in his sports career, leaving behind the American league to compete in elite European basketball.
The player's profile leaves no doubt about his role in Peppe Poeta's project. Mathews is a pure specialist in outside shooting, with a shooting percentage of 38.2% from the three-point line throughout his years in the NBA. His best season in this aspect came in 2023-24 when he achieved 44% efficiency on threes, a record that positioned him as the fourth-best shooter in the entire league that season. This offensive ability is precisely what Olimpia was looking for to enhance their offensive arsenal.
A career built without draft privileges
Mathews' career path represents the story of a role player who carves out a path without the privileges of a high position in the draft. Coming from Lipscomb University, an institution he helped qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time in its history, Mathews was not selected in the 2019 draft. However, this circumstance did not prevent him from playing 329 games in the NBA over seven consecutive years.
His journey through the American league led him to wear the jerseys of Washington, Houston, Atlanta, and Indiana. In Houston, he found his best statistical version during the 2021-22 season, averaging 10 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Subsequently, in Atlanta, he spent three seasons serving as a bench shooter, contributing his specialty from the second unit.
Decline in Indiana and the European opportunity
The last stretch of his time with the NBA's Indiana Pacers showed clear signs that his American cycle was coming to an end. During the last season, his appearances were reduced to just fifteen games, where he averaged 5.2 points. This decrease in minutes and relevance was indicative that his time in the NBA had come to an end.
Faced with this scenario, Mathews has decided to seek new opportunities in Europe, where Olimpia Milan offers him the chance to be a protagonist again. The player himself expressed his enthusiasm for opening this new chapter, thanking the Italian club and its coaching staff for the opportunity. He stated his readiness to start working immediately and contribute in whatever way the team needs.
Eighth addition in a summer of changes
Mathews' signing is the eighth addition to Olimpia Milan during this summer market, confirming the scale of the reconstruction that Peppe Poeta is carrying out. Before Mathews, the club had brought in Alec Peters, Jason Burnell, Devon Hall, Nicola Akele, Darius Thompson, RJ Cole, and Moses Wright. This number of moves shows that the Milanese entity is almost completely restructuring its squad for the upcoming season.
The arrival of the American shooting guard adds offensive depth to a team seeking to compete in the EuroLeague with renewed tools. His specialization in outside shooting fits perfectly with the modern trends of European basketball, where the three-point shot has become a fundamental weapon.
Previous connections with EuroLeague players
Interestingly, Mathews already has previous experiences sharing the locker room with several players who will play in the EuroLeague this year. During his time in the NBA, he played 55 games alongside Usman Garuba when both were part of the Atlanta Hawks. Additionally, he has camaraderie references with Bruno Fernando, Trent Forrest, Armoni Brooks, and Patty Mills, players who will also compete in the top European continental competition.
These previous connections may facilitate his adaptation to European basketball, as Mathews will not arrive as a complete stranger to the ecosystem of players who share the EuroLeague. Knowing the playing style and competitive mindset of players who have already made the transition from the NBA can be a positive factor in his development in Milan.
Olimpia Milan has made a clear commitment to enhancing their offensive capability from distance, a fundamental aspect of modern basketball. With Mathews, the Italian team adds NBA experience and a specialized profile that should enhance their chances of competing at the highest level in the upcoming season.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mathews llega a Milán para reforzar el tiro exterior
