Drake Diener

Drake Diener
No. 16 – Orlandina Basket
Position Shooting guard
League Serie A
Personal information
Born (1981-12-19) December 19, 1981
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight 200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school Goodrich
(Fond du Lac, Wisconsin)
College DePaul (2001–2005)
NBA draft 2005 / Undrafted
Playing career 2006–present
Career history
2006–2007 Ignis Castelletto Ticino
2007–2008 Orlandina Basket
2008 Montepaschi Siena
2008–2009 Scandone Avellino
2009–2011 Teramo Basket
2011–2014 Dinamo Sassari
2014–2015 Pallacanestro Reggiana
2015 CAI Zaragoza
2016–present Orlandina Basket
Career highlights and awards

Drake Richard Diener (born December 19, 1981) is an American professional basketball player for Orlandina Basket of Serie A. He played college basketball at DePaul University.

College career

Diener joined the DePaul Blue Demons in 2001, where he was nominated best player on the team in two consecutive years. In 2005, Diener was diagnosed with Crohn's disease.[1] He underwent two surgical operations that took him off the court for one year.

Professional career

In June 2006, Diener signed his first professional contract with Ignis Castelletto Ticino of the Italian Second Division.[2] Thanks to a good season there, the following year he signed for Orlandina Basket in the Italian First Division. After becoming the top scorer of the Italy's highest league, in February 2008 he signed with Montepaschi Siena.[3] During that season in Siena, Diener contributed to the team's victory of the Italian championship and a 3rd-place finish in the Euroleague.

In October 2008, Diener signed a one-year deal with Scandone Avellino where he had again the chance to play in the Euroleague.[4]

In July 2009, Diener signed a two-year deal with Teramo Basket.[5] During his stay in Abruzzo, Drake enjoyed great success confirming himself as one of the best players in the Italian league and the main contributor to Teramo's remaining in the top division.

In July 2011, he signed a one-year deal Dinamo Sassari where after 10 years, since Goodrich high school, he reunited with his cousin and former NBA point guard Travis Diener.[6] In June 2012, he re-signed with Sassari for one more season.[7] In July 2013, he again re-signed with Sassari, this time for two years.[8] On March 16, 2014 Diener scored 44 points against Reyer Venezia Mestre making his career high.[9] He helped his team to win the Italian Cup in 2014. He was also named the Lega Basket Serie A MVP of the 2013–14 season.[10] In June 2014, he left Dinamo Sassari.[11]

On July 23, 2014, Diener signed with Pallacanestro Reggiana and was released on June 30, 2015.[12][13][14]

On August 23, 2015, Diener signed with CAI Zaragoza in the Spanish Liga ACB.[15] On December 29, 2015, he parted ways with Zaragoza after averaging 6.1 points per game in ACB.[16]

Personal

Diener suffered from Crohn's disease.[1]

During his 2 years in Teramo he earned the nickname of "Il Drago" (the Dragon) due to the similar sound of his first name to the Italian word.

His cousin Travis Diener also played for Dinamo Sassari.

References

  1. 1 2 Demon of a time
  2. ↑ Drake Diener to Play in Italy
  3. ↑ Montepaschi Siena signs combo guard Drake Diener
  4. ↑ Avellino tabs Drake Diener
  5. ↑ Diener lands in Teramo
  6. ↑ Dinamo Sassari announces Drake Diener
  7. ↑ Dinamo Sassari officially keeps Travis and Drake Diener
  8. ↑ Dinamo Sassari officially re-signed Drake Diener
  9. ↑ Watch all of Drake Diener's buckets in his 44-points showcase
  10. ↑ Serie A, Drake Diener l'Mvp della stagione (Italian)
  11. ↑ Drake Diener to leave Banco di Sardegna Sassari
  12. ↑ DRAKE DIENER E' BIANCOROSSO (Italian)
  13. ↑ Drake Diener officially signs with Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia
  14. ↑ Drake Diener is released from Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia (Italian)
  15. ↑ Drake Diener signs with CAI Zaragoza
  16. ↑ Drake Diener, CAI Zaragoza officially part ways


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