In 2021, Nico Mannion faced a significant health challenge but fully recovered after several months. Now in good health, he is fully focused on advancing his basketball career.
Nico Mannion, born on March 14, 2001, in Siena, Italy, is an Italian-American professional basketball player.
Currently, he plays point guard for Olimpia Milano in the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and EuroLeague.
He was a standout basketball player at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona.
Regarding his education, he graduated early by taking online summer courses, which allowed him to focus on his basketball career.
Then, he played college basketball for the University of Arizona during the 2019–2020 season, where he averaged 14.0 points and 5.3 assists per game.
His performance earned him All-Pac-12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team honors.
Nico Mannion Contracted A Serious Intestinal Infection in 2021!
Nico Mannion faced a significant health challenge after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
While representing the Italian national team, he contracted a severe intestinal infection.
The infection was likely acquired during his time in Tokyo, but its exact cause remains unknown.
The first symptoms appeared shortly after the Olympics, as he began experiencing health issues while still with the Italian national team.
This illness caused dramatic weight loss of nearly 20 pounds and a reduction in muscle mass.
Some reports suggest that his illness was caused by salmonella, a bacterial infection often linked to contaminated food or water.
This aligns with the symptoms he experienced, such as severe weight loss and muscle mass reduction, following the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Mannion, regarding his illness, once said:
I got salmonella from a piece of rotten chicken or meat, a week before the training camp for the Olympics. It then evolved into an intestinal disease and the doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong.
Apparently Nico Mannion got an intestinal virus while in Tokyo for the olympic games and will now be missing several weeks due to the stomach virus. Looks like he’s lost a lot of weight. Hoping he gets better soon. pic.twitter.com/poaB3HL7pm
— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) September 6, 2021
Upon joining Virtus Bologna in Italy, the severity of his condition became apparent. Then, he underwent specialized treatment at Sant’Orsola Hospital in Bologna.
This health crisis had an impact on Mannion’s career, delaying his debut with Virtus Bologna.
It also played a role in his shift from the NBA to European basketball, allowing him to prioritize his recovery and secure more stable playing opportunities.
Nico Mannion Recovered From His Severe Intestinal Infection Through Specialized Treatment And Training!
Mannion’s recovery process was gradual. He regained 17 of the pounds he had lost and began individual training under medical supervision.
His recovery involved a personalized program to rebuild his strength and muscle mass.
Moreover, his recovery lasted approximately two months before he returned to full health and resumed basketball activities.
Despite the setback, Mannion recovered and rebuilt his basketball career in Europe. Recently, Nico Mannion has been making strides in his basketball career.
After overcoming his health challenges, he signed a two-year deal with Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, a prominent Spanish Liga ACB and EuroLeague team.
However, he missed the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023 due to a mutual agreement with the Italian Basketball Federation, prioritizing his physical well-being.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Mannion is the son of former NBA player Pace Mannion and his Italian mother, Gaia Bianchi.
- He was a two-time Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American.
- During his high school career, he led Pinnacle High School to two Class 6A state championships.
