ðə nˈɪks kənsˈɪdɚd hˌɪm nˌɑːt kwˈaɪt ɹˈɛdi fɚðɪ ˌɛnbˌiːˈeɪ, sˌoʊ hiː bɪɡˈæn hɪz pɹəfˈɛʃənəl bˈæskɪtbˌɔːl kɚɹˈɪɹ ɪn ˈɪɾəli.
The Knicks considered him not quite ready for the NBA, so he began his professional basketball career in Italy.