In a surprising move, former Chicago Bulls big man Adama Sanogo has left the NBA to join the Trapani Sharks, an Italian EuroLeague club, as announced in a recent press release from the team. The 23-year-old power forward/center, known for his standout college career and promising G League performances, has signed a significant contract to continue his professional basketball journey overseas.
Sanogo, a 6-foot-9 standout, first rose to prominence at the University of Connecticut, where he played a pivotal role in leading the Huskies to an NCAA championship in the 2022-23 season. Despite going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, Sanogo quickly secured a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls. His time in the NBA was primarily spent with the Bulls’ G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, where he showcased his potential as a dominant big man.
During his two seasons with the Windy City Bulls, Sanogo proved himself as a force on both ends of the court. In the 2023-24 season, he averaged an impressive 22.0 points on 62.2% field goal shooting and 73.3% from the free-throw line, along with 12.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game across 29 contests. His stellar performance earned him spots on the All-NBAGL Third Team and the NBAGL All-Rookie Team.
In his second season with Windy City, Sanogo’s role was slightly reduced, but he still posted solid numbers, averaging 16.2 points on .524/.417/.750 shooting splits, 9.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game. His limited appearances with the Chicago Bulls saw him play in 13 games, averaging 3.4 points on 52.9% shooting and 3.2 rebounds per contest.
The Trapani Sharks, eager to bolster their roster, secured Sanogo’s signature, with team president Valerio Antonini breaking the news on his official X account. “ADAMA is coming!!!!! I managed to convince him!” Antonini exclaimed. “A TOP profile is arriving to complete a fantastic team, much more complete than last year and certainly with young players eager to win. We’ve replaced great elements with great prospects. Now we’re ready…. WELCOME ADAMA!”
ADAMA is coming !!!!!
Ce l’ho fatta a convincerlo! arriva un profilo TOP a completare una squadra favolosa e molto più completa dello scorso anno e certamente con giovani con grande voglia di vincere. Abbiamo sostituito ottimi elementi con grandi prospetti. Ora siamo pronti….… pic.twitter.com/zea3obKxb6— Valerio Antonini (@ValerioAntoPres) July 25, 2025
Sanogo’s decision to leave the NBA for the EuroLeague comes as a shock to many, given his young age and potential for growth in the American league. However, the move to the Trapani Sharks offers him a fresh opportunity to develop his game on an international stage while playing a more prominent role. The Italian club is banking on Sanogo’s size, skill, and hunger to help elevate their roster in a competitive EuroLeague landscape.
As Sanogo embarks on this new chapter, fans will be watching closely to see how the former UConn star adapts to European basketball and whether this move could pave the way for a future return to the NBA. For now, the Trapani Sharks have landed a talented big man ready to make his mark.