An American in Milan

Robert Disibio, originally from New York State but raised in Connecticut, actually has southern Italian roots — his father’s family is from Campania, while his mother’s family hails from Calabria. Nearly 26 years old, he is the first American to simultaneously pursue a Specialized Master at Bocconi and play for the university’s basketball team in the Interregional Series B league, which is no small detail. In basketball, the word “American” immediately conjures up a higher standard of play — someone expected to make a difference. And everyone, from coach Carlo Favero to his teammates, hopes he will do just that.

Why did you start playing basketball? What made you choose it over other sports?

I have been playing sports ever since I learned to walk and hold a ball. When I was about eight years old, I started playing basketball competitively. I continued playing soccer, baseball and basketball until I was 15, and although I would say I did well in all three sports, basketball was the one that appealed to me the most. This led me to truly appreciate every aspect of the sport and to focus all of my energy on it around the age of 16.

What Bocconi program are you enrolled in, and what are your professional aspirations off the court?

As part of the university’s Sport Athletes program, I am pursuing a Master in Corporate Finance (MCF) at SDA Bocconi, but I am still kind of unsure about my professional aspirations. The great thing about this program is that it offers a broad overview of various topics in the finance industry, allowing me to better understand what my ultimate goal is. However, my main aspiration is to strive to improve every day, becoming a more well-rounded person than I was the day before. As long as I continue to grow, committing myself to learning new skills and honing in on my ability to learn new concepts, I believe I will certainly find myself on the right path.

Why did you decide to play for Bocconi?

I wanted to have an opportunity to obtain a specialization in finance and simultaneously continue my basketball career, and Bocconi is one of the few schools in Europe that offers that. When I took a step back and understood what it was that I wanted for myself and my future, I realized that — sooner or later — the dribbling will stop. Professional athletes have something waiting for them on the other side after their sports careers come to an end; I wanted to be as prepared as possible for that moment, so I decided to join the Bocconi team. We have a good mix of young and seasoned players, as well as former pro athletes. The great thing about it is that they are all good-natured people who truly love basketball and want to keep improving our team. I feel like I already know Coach Favero well, and I cannot wait to continue our relationship both on and off the court.

Let’s look back a bit; tell us about your high school and university sports career in the US.

I would say that my high school career was good, but not exceptional. I played on the varsity team only during the third and final year, while many usually start playing at the highest level on their high school teams much earlier. However, I think I was a late bloomer. Around 16–17 years old, I started to become taller and grow a lot stronger, and that naturally led to improving my game more quickly. My last two years of high school were really great, then I started playing college basketball and football at Washington and Lee University, which is an NCAA Division III school in Lexington, Virginia. I think that experience really pushed me to improve and pursue basketball as a career. At the end of my first year, all students — both at my university and around the country — were sent home early due to the Covid pandemic. The following year, I decided to take some time off from school as a result of the restrictions put on sports schedules, lectures and social interactions. When I returned, however, I had significantly improved as a player. I ended my university career with over 1,700 points and even served twice as team captain. Above all, though, I believe that the connections made with my teammates and coaches — still going strong today — are the ones that will last a lifetime.

After trying your hand at a pro career here in Italy, what would you say are the main differences between Italian and US basketball?

My first pro experience was in Agrigento, playing for the Serie B1 league. I think that the main differences lie in the way the sport is played, which is much more structured here in Italy. In the US, there is more one-on-one play and creativity with the ball, while in Europe everything is more structured and, in general, greater importance is placed on tactics. Additionally, the biggest difference was the physical intensity; coming to Europe and playing against adult men was very different from playing against other college-aged athletes.

Give us a summary of the key milestones of your career in Italy.

I think the most important milestone of my career in Italy was qualifying for the playoffs last year with Basket Forlimpopoli. When I got there, the team was in the relegation zone, but we did manage to qualify for the Serie B playoffs for the first time ever in the club’s history. I was the first American to play for that team, and I had a wonderful experience there. I joined the team with 12 games left in the season, and from that point on, we posted a record of 9 wins and 3 losses.

You also played in the Summer League with the Milwaukee Bucks. How did that opportunity come about, and what are your memories of that experience?

My experience playing in the Summer League with the Milwaukee Bucks was incredible; I learned a lot because I was pushed past my comfort zone on the court. In fact, it was the toughest competition I had ever played in, so naturally it pushed me to improve. I played alongside some players who have now really established themselves in the NBA, like AJ Green, who is still the Bucks' shooting guard and who set their single-season record for three-pointers last year. He and I trained one-on-one a few times over the summer, and it was a fantastic experience. It is always really great to compete against players who are better than you and who can push you to improve your game.