In the summer of 2024, Olimpia Milan sought to completely revamp its backcourt, which was in dire need of a makeover after Kevin Pangos failed to make the hoped-for contributions.
The management aimed to make the offense more unpredictable, as it had seemed too static in the previous season.
There was also a desire to rejuvenate the roster a little, creating a good mix of experience and youth.
Although this attempted revolution did not produce the desired results, one of the players who arrived that summer, Armoni Brooks, is proving to be a real gem for the Milanese club.
Armoni Brooks' uneven first year in Milan
In his first season in Milan, Brooks showed glimpses of his talent, especially in the Italian league, where he played more consistently.
He finished the regular season averaging 15.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1 assist per game, shooting almost 49% from 3-point range and playing 24 minutes per game.
However, he couldn't replicate his numbers in the EuroLeague. Coach Messina did not use him as much as he did in the domestic league, and the American player's numbers suffered as a result.
In Europe's top competition, Brooks averaged 7.6 points and 2 rebounds per game, shooting 41% from 3-point range and playing 15 minutes per game.
Credit Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire
From limited EuroLeague role to offensive centerpiece
Meanwhile, at the start of this season, his playing time in the EuroLeague continued to fluctuate under coach Messina.
But after the Italian coach decided to step down from his role and focus on being president of basketball operations, leaving the bench to Peppe Poeta, Brooks really stepped up his game, showing some seriously impressive consistency.
Since Poeta became head coach, Brooks has gone from averaging 10 points to more than 18 per game.
His playing time has also increased significantly, and the confidence he exudes is truly remarkable.
In Milan's last two European victories against Panathinaikos and Anadolu Efes, Brooks scored 24 and 31 points, respectively, consistently finishing as the team's top scorer.
Brooks also scored the winning basket at the buzzer against Udine.
Elite efficiency under Peppe Poeta
From November to today, as highlighted by Backdoor Podcast, Armoni Brooks has an effective field goal percentage of 68.2%, which gives slightly more weight to 3-point shots, and a true shooting percentage over 70%, which are truly incredible numbers.
These stats are even more impressive when you consider that Brooks is often used in difficult situations, putting the ball in his hands in the final seconds of the action to try to get something good out of it.
During this period, Brooks played 20 possessions in which he received the ball with 4 or fewer seconds remaining on the clock, producing 1.3 points per possession with an efficiency of 63.2%, as highlighted by data from Backdoor Podcast.
In short, the former Houston Rockets player is quickly becoming one of the most efficient scorers in the entire EuroLeague.
In a recent interview, Gianmaria Vacirca, who helped bring him to Milan in 2024, noted that Brooks' growth does not surprise him all that much.
"I think that one of the turning points for him was to realize that in Europe he could use different ways to score," Vacirca told EuroDevotion.
"In the NBA, he didn't attack the rim as he does here in Europe. At some point, he realized that both in Italy and the EuroLeague, he could have used more variety in his game," Vacirca continued. "So, he's not only an amazing shooter, but he's also a player who can drive to the basket and finish with a dunk."
"When he'll be able to attack more also from his left, he'll be even more lethal. In July of 2025, I texted him and told him that he was gonna be the most important player on the team."
With this kind of performance, inevitably, Armoni Brooks has already become one of the most sought-after players ahead of the summer transfer market, with his contract set to expire in June.
What does the future hold for Armoni?
Massimo Pisa of La Repubblica recently published an article in which he argues that Brooks' next contract could easily be worth around €2 million per season.
Given the inflation in player prices that has spread across the EuroLeague market in recent years, it is not so far-fetched to imagine Brooks earning similar sums.
After all, Brooks is in the prime of his career, turning 28 in July, and few scorers across Europe match his efficiency.
Olimpia Milan would obviously like to keep him, as coach Peppe Poeta stated after the victory against Anadolu Efes.
Credit Milos Vukadinovic / Getty Images
Negotiations between the Italian club and the player's entourage have been ongoing for several weeks, but no agreement has been reached.
The player and his agency inevitably want to test the market to better understand what offers they could receive.
Olimpia has four big names whose contracts expire at the end of the season: Shavon Shields, Josh Nebo, Zach LeDay, and Armoni Brooks.
Sources with knowledge of the situation have told BasketNews that the most realistic scenario would see only two of these players staying in Milan next season.
Brooks' contract extension is considered a priority by Milan management, especially given the need to reshape the roster around coach Poeta's needs, who this year inherited a roster not built for him but for coach Messina.
NBA interest and the EuroLeague suitors
The competition, however, will be fierce. Among the teams closely following Brooks are the two Greek giants, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, as well as Real Madrid and Dubai, sources have told BasketNews.
Credit Panagiotis Moschandreou/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images
The possibility of a return to the NBA for the American player is far from out of the question, especially if his performances continue at this level.
Several NBA franchises, sources have told BasketNews, are closely monitoring the former Houston player's progress and could decide to make a move in the summer.
Milan, for its part, is working hard to try to keep the player, who has an excellent relationship with everyone in the organization.
Brooks' importance within the Olimpia team is increasingly evident, and then... how wonderful it would be to continue to have as one of the key players a guy whose name is pronounced exactly like the surname of the man who has invested so much in Olimpia over the years and has become a symbol for all the fans.
Sometimes it is said that destiny lies in the name, and in the case of Armoni Brooks, this seems to be true.
This Dark Horse Is About To Shock The EuroLeague
Orazio Cauchi
Orazio Cauchi started his career in basketball at 21, having worked for several years at Sportando as the lead writer of the website. He also covered several live events, including the Euroleague Final Four, Italian Cups, Serie A league finals, and EuroBasket. He also contributed to American media, such as LibertyBallers and Def Pen Hoops. Cauchi joined BasketNews in 2021 as a Staff Writer. Holds a degree in Politics & International Relations.
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