For Andrea Bargnani, a basketball journey starts from the playground. Now, the former No. 1 overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft is helping ensure future generations never struggle to find a court the way he once did in Italy.

Bargnani admits that as a young player in Rome, finding a decent basketball court was a challenge. What should have been simple — grabbing a ball and playing with friends — often turned into a search. Modern technology has changed that, and for him, it made perfect sense to join forces with Pick-Roll, a fast-growing European sportech startup.

Hence, it was a no-brainer for the NBA journeyman to hop on board the fast-growing European sportech startup Pick-Roll. Bargnani came in as a shareholder and global brand ambassador, seeing good things ahead for the geolocated app.

“What impressed me the most is that it meets the most basic need of each basketball player – which is find the nearest basketball court and go there and play with friends and family,” Bargnani said. “It seems to be a pretty simple thing. Sometimes it’s pretty hard, especially in Italy,” the 39-year-old said in an interview.

The 2007 NBA All-Rookie First Team member confessed that finding a court in Italy was not easy. And even once they find one, there are basketball courts that may not be in their best condition.

“You never know where the nearest court is, the shape of it. Many of them in Italy are not in good shape. The ring may not be straight, the floor is bumpy. All these little things,” added Bargnani.

While most remember Andrea for his stints in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets, the journey to the pros was not an easy one. Aside from training, Bargnani revealed that it was playing against random players that helped him evolve.

“Looking at my story, playing in the playground with friends and around Italy and different cities where I was growing up, it definitely helps you to keep your love of the game alive and to make it grow,” he said. “Playing in the playgrounds with random people helps you a lot.”

For now, the app covers only certain areas around Europe. But as Pick-Roll app Dario Ferretti mentioned previously, plans to expand its coverage to help countries around the world are underway. The Philippines is included in that list.

Bargnani believes that this app can help young players and keep their love for the game flowing. Given the right breaks, not only does the digital tool help keep their love for the game alive but also boost their drive – including the possibility of getting discovered.

With basketball courts scattered across the Philippines, many still remain hidden to both players and organizers. Pick-Roll does not just point out the nearest place to play, it creates opportunities. It allows young athletes to keep their passion burning by finding daily games, while also giving organizers the ability to map out leagues and tournaments with ease.

For Bargnani, the value of such a tool is clear. He knows what it’s like to search endlessly for a place to play, and he understands how simple games can fuel bigger dreams.

In a country where basketball is more than just a pastime but a way of life, an app like Pick-Roll could become more than a convenience — it could be a bridge that connects talent with opportunity, players with communities, and passion with purpose.

If the playground once shaped Bargnani, perhaps Pick-Roll can shape the next generation of Filipino hoopers who only need a court and a chance to play.