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Marco Stefano Belinelli, nicknamed "Beli", (born March 25, 1986, in San Giovanni in Persiceto, Italy) is an Italian professional basketball player.

He is 196 cm (6' 5") tall and plays as a shooting guard, and he is considered to be one of Italy's greatest basketball talents. He was selected 18th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors.

After being selected #18 in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, Belinelli dropped 37 points in his first NBA Summer League game against the New Orleans Hornets, going 14-on-20 from the field, including 5-on-7 from behind the arc, adding 5 boards, 2 assists and 1 steal to help the Warriors earn a 110-102 win. His performance is tied for second for the highest scoring game ever in Vegas summer league history, behind Keith Bogans' 38 scored as a member of the Orlando Magic in 2004. Belinelli finished his Summer League scoring an average of 22.8 points per game in 4 games with the Warriors, before flying back to Italy to be part of the Italy national basketball team for EuroBasket 2007.

Marco Belinelli isn't just new to the NBA, he's new to the United States. The 21-year-old from Italy made his first trip to America in June for the draft, where he was selected with the 18th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors, and just a few months later he has made a home for himself in California. Belinelli talked to HOOPSWORLD about his rookie season, representing Italy, and which teammate has been brushing up on his Italian.

You've moved all the way from Italy to California. How is life in the NBA?

"I think that it is nice and hard, especially for me because it is my first year in the NBA and for rookies life is very hard. But no, you have to work to improve it and work very hard and to wait for your moment, and I wait."

What is the best thing about American basketball that you've discovered so far?

"Everything is beautiful. Every day we play a different game and we play against a different player. It's very nice because in Italia, we play two days a week I think, not like five or something like this. I like it like this."

You were talking to Andris (Biedrins) during shoot around and here in the locker room. How much has this team's international flair helped you to adjust?

"It is nice because we have a lot of European players. And the American players have been very great with me because I am Italian and this is the first time I've left from Bologna. Everything is OK."

What does it mean to be one of the few Italian players in the NBA?

"It is very important for me and very important for the Italian people because me and Andrea Bargnani represent Italy, Italia. Every day, every game, I have to work out for myself and for the Italian people."

What is it like when you go back home to Italy? Since you are one of so few to play in the NBA, are you treated like a celebrity?

"No, I am a person like my friend. I'm nothing special. I go out and people talk to me, it's nice."

This season is still so young and you're still getting acclimated to the NBA, but what would you like to bring to the Warriors this season?

"I can do everything because I can shoot, I can take the ball and go the full court. I have to improve and wait [for] my moment."

Are you teaching the rest of the Warriors Italian?

"No, no just a little bit. I'm teaching a little bit with Baron (Davis)."

Belinelli has been slowly eased into the NBA this season. He has appeared in 10 games and is averaging two points in nine minutes. Belinelli is shooting just 23% from the field but all signs point to improvement – he shot 53% in Italy's top professional league, Serie A.

Credit: Jessica Camerato for Hoopsworld