Pallacanestro Varese is pleased to announce that it has reached a multi-year agreement with Stefan Nikolić, a 203-centimeter Serbian forward who was trained in Italy, who will join the red-and-white roster starting next season. Nikolić is a versatile forward who stands out for his solidity, tactical intelligence, and reliability. He makes his biggest impact on the defensive end, where he can guard multiple positions thanks to his physicality, mobility, and ability to read the game. On offense, he is an effective off-ball player who focuses on maintaining fluidity and spacing. His ability to adapt to different tactical situations makes him a valuable asset for any team.
Maksim Horowitz, General Manager of Basketball Strategy at Pallacanestro Varese: “Signing Stefan represents another step forward in building the team for next season. He’s a player we’ve been following with interest for several years, and he has consistently demonstrated a wealth of valuable technical skills. Defensively, he brings physicality, energy, and versatility, while on offense, he’s a player capable of pushing the pace in transition and making a significant contribution on the boards thanks to his determination and focus. We are very happy to welcome him to Varese.”
Career
Born in Belgrade on May 29, 1997, Stefan Nikolić developed his skills in the Red Star Belgrade youth system before moving to Italy in 2013. He continued his development between Virtus Bologna and Stella Azzurra Roma, the club with which he also made his Serie B debut. His senior career began with Napoli, where from 2016 to 2018 he earned promotion and played in the Serie A2 championship. After his stint in Udine, he returned to Virtus Bologna between 2019 and 2021, being part of the team that won the Scudetto. He subsequently spent three seasons with Pallacanestro Cantù, establishing himself as a solid and versatile winger. In 2024-2025, he joined Vanoli Cremona, playing in all 30 regular-season games in Serie A and finishing the season averaging 9.3 points (41.3% from three-point range) and 3.7 rebounds in approximately 24 minutes of play, making a significant contribution to the Lombardy club’s survival. Last season, he played for Reyer Venezia, a team with which he reached the playoff finals. With the club, he averaged 4.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in less than 12 minutes of play per game.