Former Milwaukee Bucks guard Luca Vildoza, currently playing in Italy, was arrested in Bologna on the night of October 15 after an altercation with an ambulance crew.
Vildoza and his wife, Milica – a professional volleyball player – were detained after paramedics reported that Vildoza had blocked their vehicle, flashed lights, and allegedly grabbed a female paramedic by the neck.
The incident occurred following a home game by his team, Virtus Bologna. The arrest itself is being handled by Italian authorities. According to Eurohoops, the public prosecutorâs office in Bologna issued an immediate release without restriction, meaning Vildoza and his wife remain free while the investigation continues.
Vildoza’s Brief NBA Sojourn
Vildoza, an Argentinian international, spent some time in the NBA came with both the Bucks and the New York Knicks. He first signed with the Knicks at the very end of the pandemic-delayed 2020-21 season, to what was reported to be a four-year, $13.6 million contract, yet he would be waived in his first ever training camp for the team, and never appeared in a regular season game for them.
After missing almost all of the following season due to ankle problems, the Bucks would sign Vildova in April 2022, his second attempt at the NBA. Both came following his strong performances for EuroLeague powerhouse Baskonia in Spain, where he had averaged 10.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 24.5 minutes over 62 games across all competitions in the 2020-21 season.
However, despite the multiple contracts, his success at the EuroLeague and international levels, and the promise they all foretold, Vildozaâs court time in the NBA was minimal. He appeared in only seven games for Milwaukee, but logged just 17 minutes in total in that time (16 of which came in garbage time), totalling 5 points and 4 assists.
Better European Career
That brief Bucks stint remains Vildozaâs only official NBA game time. If nothing else, he did leave a small legacy with a memorable behind-the-back assist to Thanasis (not Giannis) Antetokounmpo in garbage time in a game against the Chicago Bulls. But once the Bucks released him ahead of the start of the 2022-23 season, Vildoza left American shores, and returned to both Europe and the EuroLeague to play for Crvena Zvezda in Serbia. Having turned 30 in August, it seems unlikely that he will ever return.
Before arriving in the NBA, Vildoza had been a key figure for Argentinaâs national team. As the successor to Pablo Prigioni, he helped Los Cóndores to reach the 2019 FIBA World Cup final. He was also a starter on the 2020 [2021] Olympic team, who made it to the quarter-finals stage before a heavy loss to Australia. In domestic competition, Vildoza had won the Spanish ACB Finals MVP award in the 2019-20 season, being one of the most dynamic playmakers and creators on the continent.
After leaving the NBA, Vildoza managed to rebuild his reputation overseas. In the 2023â24 EuroLeague season, he averaged 11.8 points and 4.2 assists per game for Greek giants Panathinaikos, winning both the EuroLeague and Greek league that season. The 18 months lost to the NBA, however, interrupted his career when it was at its apex.
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