Photo: FIBA

Ettore Messina is reportedly heading back to the NBA after ending his long tenure with Olimpia Milan.

According to Italian newspaper “Repubblica,” the 66-year-old has joined the Atlanta Hawks as a consultant.

The move marks another NBA chapter for Messina, who previously worked as a consultant with the Los Angeles Lakers and later served as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs.

His arrival in Atlanta will also reunite him with Hawks head coach Quin Snyder.

Their relationship dates back to CSKA Moscow, where Snyder worked as an assistant on Messina’s coaching staff before eventually establishing himself as an NBA head coach.

Messina departed Milan this summer after holding significant responsibilities with the club as both head coach and president of basketball operations.

His next role will reportedly see him split his time between working with the Hawks and serving as a basketball color commentator on Italian television.

The veteran coach remains one of the most accomplished figures in European basketball.

Messina has captured four EuroLeague championships during his career and most recently guided Milan to the EuroLeague Final Four in 2021.

He has also won seven Italian league championships.

Messina had recently been connected with basketball projects in Rome targeting future participation in the EuroLeague and NBA Europe, but his next destination will instead take him directly back to the NBA.