Nicolò Melli
A versatile Italian big man whose intelligence and shooting made him a cornerstone for both Fenerbahçe and the Azzurri.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Italian basketball player·Birthday: January 26·Millennials
Biography
Nicolò Melli represents the modern European forward: skilled, smart, and adaptable. Growing up in the Italian basketball system, he turned professional with Virtus Bologna as a teenager, quickly showcasing a rare blend of size, passing vision, and a reliable outside shot. His quest for the highest level took him to Germany and then to Brose Bamberg, where he became a leader and a champion, winning multiple Bundesliga titles. His performances earned him a marquee move to Fenerbahçe, one of Europe's powerhouses, where he solidified his status as an elite EuroLeague competitor, earning All-EuroLeague honors. For the Italian national team, Melli has been a constant, his high basketball IQ and versatility making him indispensable in the frontcourt across multiple European Championships and Olympic Games.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Nicolò was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nicolò Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Nicolò's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected to the All-EuroLeague Second Team in 2017 following his season with Brose Bamberg.
- Won three consecutive German Bundesliga championships with Brose Bamberg from 2015 to 2017.
- Captained the Italian national team at the EuroBasket 2022 tournament.
- Played 50 games in the NBA for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
Did You Know?
His father, Roberto Melli, was also a professional basketball player in Italy.
He was named the Italian League's Best Player Under 22 in 2012.
He speaks fluent Italian, English, and Turkish.
“My game is about making the right read, whether to shoot or to pass.”
