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Celtics will play preseason game in Italy

Olimpia Milano, a three-time Euroleague Champion, features former Providence star and Boston Celtic MarShon Brooks.AP

The Celtics will travel to Milan to face Olimpia Milano in a preseason game Oct. 6, the NBA announced Wednesday.

Olimpia Milano, a three-time Euroleague Champion, features former Providence star MarShon Brooks, who was selected by Boston with the 25th pick of the 2011 draft. The roster also includes Timberwolves draft pick Alessandro Gentile and former Cavaliers forward Samardo Samuels.

"We are thrilled to bring one of the NBA's most storied franchises to Milan to compete against Olimpia Milano on their home court," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said.

The game will be played at the Mediolanum Forum. This will be Boston's seventh game in Europe and second in Milan. The Celtics last traveled there in 2012.

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"I know there are passionate NBA fans in Italy," Celtics guard Avery Bradley said, "and we look forward to an electric atmosphere on game night."

This is part of the NBA's Global Games initiative. The Celtics are also scheduled to play a regular-season game in Mexico City next year.

Tickets for the preseason game against Olimpia Milano go on sale June 8 and can be purchased at ticketone.it.

Father showed best

As Wyoming forward Larry Nance Jr. goes through the predraft workout process, he has leaned heavily on a trusted source who knows what it takes to thrive in the NBA — his father.

Larry Nance Sr. averaged 17.1 points per game over 13 seasons with the Suns and Cavaliers. He was a three-time All-Star and the winner of the 1984 dunk contest.

"I don't think I necessarily would like to set myself apart from my dad," said Nance Jr., who worked out for the Celtics Wednesday. "I've never heard a bad word said about him, so I'm proud to carry the name."

Nance Jr. said his father was struck by the thoroughness of the predraft process. After attending the NBA Combine in Chicago, Nance has been working out with his agent's group and he also has about a dozen workouts with individual teams.

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"My dad, after he finished college, he took three weeks off, played in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, took three more weeks off and got drafted," Nance Jr. said. "It was literally one workout, and then teams chose. Teams didn't even bring him in for workouts, so he thinks this is all madness."

The 6-foot-8-inch Nance Jr. was a lightly recruited prospect out of high school, but he progressed during his four seasons at Wyoming. He packed 50 pounds onto his previously lithe frame and averaged 16.1 points and 7.2 rebounds as a senior this year.

His skill set, he said, is similar to his father's. But he still has some room for improvement as a leaper.

"He was a spectacular athlete," Nance Jr. said of his dad. "I've never been able to put my shoulder at the rim yet."

UMass mentor

UMass forward Cady Lalanne said former Minutemen star Lou Roe, who is now an assistant coach at the school, deserves much of the credit for his development.

"He's been a big mentor," Lalanne said after Wednesday's workout with the Celtics. "At UMass, he really helped me out a lot, especially because we didn't really have a post coach out there until he showed up. He really helped me out a lot, teaching me the game."

Roe, the 30th pick of the 1995 NBA Draft, played 66 games over two seasons with the Pistons and Warriors before having a lengthy career overseas. He returned to UMass in 2012 to continue his education and serve as an administrative assistant coach.

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"He told me if you're in the gym as much as possible and get a lot of reps up, you'll have complete confidence," said Lalanne.

In addition to Nance and Lalanne, Wednesday's workout included Alpha Kaba (France), Kevin Capers (Florida Southern), Maxie Esho (UMass), and T.J. Price (Western Kentucky).


Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamHimmelsbach.