Franco Balbi

Franco Nicolás Balbi (born August 21, 1989), is an Argentinian professional basketball player who currently plays with Flamengo in the Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB).[1] At a height of 6'2" (1.88 m) tall[2], he plays at the point guard position.

Franco Balbi
No. 6 – Flamengo
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNBB
Personal information
Born (1989-08-21) August 21, 1989
Junín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
NationalityArgentinian
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2011 / Undrafted
Playing career2006–present
Career history
2006–2009Ciclista Juninense
2009–2011Quimsa
2011San Martín de Corrientes
2011–2013Ciclista Juninense
2013–2016Argentino de Junín
2016–2018Ferro Carril
2018–Flamengo
Career highlights and awards
  • NBB champion (2019)
  • All-NBB Team (2019)
  • NBB Best Foreign Player (2019)
  • Brazilian Super 8 Cup winner (2018)
  • Rio de Janeiro State champion (2018)
  • LNB All-Team (2017)
  • Argentine Cup winner (2009)

Professional career

Balbi started playing youth club basketball with Club Villa Belgrano, in the city of Junín, when he was 5. He also played with Los Indios de Junín at the youth level, before arriving at Ciclista Juninense, where he made his debut in Argentina's top level league, the Liga Nacional de Básquet (LNB), on January 14, 2007, against Regatas Corrientes. The following season, Ciclista Juninense got relegated, and had to play in Argentina's second division, the Torneo Nacional de Ascenso (TNA). Balbi turned into a key player on the team, including playing more minutes and having good games, which made Quimsa from Santiago del Estero, sign him up for the 2009–10 LNB season, marking his return to the Argentine first division.[3] That same season, he suffered a severe injury that made him lose minutes the following season, and that ultimately led Quimsa to terminate his contract. He quickly managed to find a new club, San Martín de Corrientes,[4] which he helped achieve a league promotion to the Argentine first division, by finishing as runner-ups in the Torneo Nacional de Ascenso (TNA).

In the following season, he returned to Ciclista Juninense, to play in the second division.[5] After two good seasons, he signed with the club's local rivals, Argentino de Junín, for the 2013–14 LNB season, were he would return to play under his first professional head coach, Adrián Capelli.

With Argentino de Junín, he played in both the 2013–14 season of the Liga Nacional de Básquet, and the Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol (FIBA South American League).[6] It was a great season, for both him and the club, with the team making the semifinals of both tournaments. In the 2014–15 LNB season, he became a regular starter for Argentino de Junín, and once again played in the Liga Nacional de Básquet and the Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol. He became an established player in the top level Argentinian league, and received noticeable coverage from the local press.

Ferro

On May 23, 2016, Balbi signed with Ferro, for the Argentine 2016–17 Liga Nacional de Básquet season.[7]

Flamengo

On June 21, 2018, Balbi signed with the Brazilian NBB club Flamengo, for the 2018–19 NBB season, which marked his first club playing experience outside of Argentina.[1]

2018–2019

In his first year with Flamengo Balbi had a successful season winning the Rio de Janeiro State Championship, Brazilian Super 8 Cup and the NBB league. Besides that he was elected the league's Best Foreign Player and selected to the All-NBB Team, averaging 10.8 ppg and 5.7 apg in 26 regular season games.

2019–2020

On June 19, 2019, Balbi re-signed with Flamengo for one more year.[8]

National team career

After a good 2014–15 LNB season with Argentino de Junín, he was selected to the senior Argentine national basketball team for the first time.[9] He made his debut against Uruguay, in Olavarría.[10]

Career statistics

LNB career statistics
Season Team GP MPG 2P% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013–14Argentino de Junín5023.3.472.410.7382.242.11.2.029.34
2014–15Argentino de Junín5429.6.416.309.8223.35.571.41.0911.48
2015–16Argentino de Junín6232.4.395.302.8224.96.191.24.1311.61
2016–17Ferro Carril6127.5.393.286.7233.516.151.33.059.28
2017–18Ferro Carril3830.1.492.396.7793.715.501.21.1111.61
Career26528.58.434.341.7773.535.11.27.0810.66

NBB regular season
† Denotes seasons in which Franco Balbi won NBB championship
Season Team GP MPG 2PT FG% 3PT FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19†Flamengo2624.3.485.371.8083.65.71.8.010.3
Career2624.3.485.371.8083.65.71.8.010.3

NBB playoffs
Season Team GP MPG 2PT FG% 3PT FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019†Flamengo1230.8.400.344.9124.75.81.8.011.8
Career1230.8.400.344.9124.75.81.8.011.8

References
  1. "Flamengo anuncia a contratação do armador argentino Franco Balbi". globoesporte.com. 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  2. Franco Nicolas Balbi Altura 1.88 (in Portuguese).
  3. "Franco Balbi presentado en Quimsa". djweb.com.ar.
  4. "San Martín sumó a Franco Balbi". pickandroll.com.ar. 2011-01-04. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  5. "Franco Balbi vuelve a Ciclista". pickandroll.com.ar. 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  6. "Franco Balbi a un paso de Argentino de Junín". basquetplus.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-11. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  7. "Franco Balbi se suma a Ferro". ferrocarriloeste.org.ar. 2016-05-22. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  8. "Eleito Armador e Estrangeiro do Ano do NBB CAIXA, argentino jogará no Flamengo por mais uma temporada: "muito feliz"". lnb.com.br. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  9. "Argentino de Junín extendió su vínculo con el base Franco Balbi". basquetplus.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-11. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  10. "Franco Balbi: La satisfación de haber vestido la camiseta de la Selección Argentina". Diario Democracia. 2015-07-13. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
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