BNXT League MVP to join Derthona after signing Dante Maddox Jr.
Derthona Basketball announces that it has signed an agreement for the 2026-27 sports season with the American athlete Dante Maddox Jr., on loan from Olimpia Milano.
Born on January 15, 2002, in Chicago Heights, Illinois, Maddox, a 188 cm (6'1"), 91 kg (200 lb) guard, arrives in black and white after a first professional season in which he dominated the BNXT League, finishing as the MVP, the leading scorer, and the highest rated player in the regular season in the top leagues of Belgium and the Netherlands. With Belgian club Okapi Aalst, he averaged 24.3 points in 31.1 minutes in 40 games between the regular season and playoffs, shooting 59.7% from two, 44.5% from three (third best overall), and 87.6% from the free throw line. He added 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and nearly 7 fouls drawn for a 31.1 rating to lead his team to the playoff semifinals, where they lost to Ostend.
Until a few days ago, Maddox was busy in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas: in the 4 games played with the Philadelphia 76ers he finished with 15.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 27.3 minutes per game and 35.5% from three.
After high school in Bloom Township, coached by his father, Dante Maddox Sr., Maddox's college career began with his first two years at Cal State Fullerton, followed by two more seasons at Toledo before finishing his NCAA career at Xavier. From there, he flew to Belgium for his first overseas experience.
Fun fact: The nickname he earned is “AutoMaddox,” which comes from the word “automatic,” referring to his shooting and scoring ability.
Declarations
Dante Maddox: «I accepted this opportunity because of Derthona's tradition and because it was the right opportunity to improve my basketball and play at one of the highest levels in Europe. I think I can bring a dynamic play as a point guard and a complete contribution as a guard, a winning attitude and the spirit of a teammate who wants the best for everyone!, this is how the Lions player addresses his new team.
I believe I can improve as I continue to grow with age, time, and experience. And I think I can do my best as a player simply by playing the EuroCup and calmly facing all the ups and downs of the season, trying to create as many positive moments as possible.
Coach Mario Fioretti: We're pleased to have brought Dante to Tortona. We were impressed by his ability to put his talent to good use for the team. We're confident he'll continue to do so next year, in an even higher-level competition like the Italian Championship and the EuroCup.
