The Italy national basketball team, known as "Gli Azzurri" for their traditional blue uniforms, is a historic European contender based in Rome and governed by the Italian Basketball Federation. The team plays its home games at various arenas across Italy, including the PalaLottomatica in Rome and the Mediolanum Forum in Milan. Founded in 1926, the team's azure blue color is a national sporting symbol. Italian basketball has a rich history, achieving early success with a EuroBasket gold in 1983 and an Olympic silver medal in 1980, led by the legendary Dino Meneghin. The team's most celebrated period came in the late 1990s and early 2000s, a silver-medal era featuring stars like Gregor Fučka and Andrea Meneghin, which included a thrilling silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. In recent years, under the guidance of coach Gianmarco Pozzecco, Italy has experienced a resurgence with a vibrant, fast-paced style, finishing in the top eight at the 2020 Olympics and showing strong form in EuroBasket competitions. The team is supported by a knowledgeable and fervent fan base that cherishes its technical, team-oriented style of play. Italy continues to be a proud and competitive force on the continental stage, blending its deep tradition with a new generation of talent.