Pallacanestro Varese is pleased to announce that it has reached a multi-year agreement with Isaiah Roby, a 203-centimeter American forward. The arrival of a player with extensive experience in both the NBA and Europe is a source of great satisfaction for the club, which is adding to its roster an athlete who combines talent, athleticism, and versatility—qualities that align perfectly with the team’s technical vision. Isaiah will wear the Openjobmetis jersey in the coming seasons, bringing quality, energy, and the mindset honed at the highest levels of international basketball to the “Garden City.”
Zachary Sogolow, General Manager of Basketball Operations for Pallacanestro Varese: “We are very happy to welcome Isaiah to Varese. Throughout his career, he has proven that he can compete at the highest levels, standing out not only for his technical skills but also for his character. On behalf of Giannis, Max, and Luis, I would like to express our delight at the arrival of a player who combines size, versatility, talent, and great professionalism. We are confident that his contribution will be invaluable to the team’s growth and to achieving our goals.”
Career
Born in Dixon, Illinois, on February 3, 1998, Isaiah Roby grew up playing basketball at his hometown high school, where he helped transform the team into one of the most competitive in the state thanks to a final season averaging 19.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 3.9 blocks, ending his collegiate career as the school’s leading rebounder and shot-blocker and the second-leading scorer ever. He continued his career at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he collected performances and stats (averaging 11.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in his senior year) that earned him a call to the 2019 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. His professional debut, however, came with the Oklahoma City Thunder, a franchise with which he played over 150 games, recording his NBA career-high 30 points on March 28, 2022, adding eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers. After his time with the Thunder, he also played for San Antonio in the 2022-2023 season, playing 42 games, before continuing his career with the New York Knicks and Westchester Knicks in the NBA GLeague. In the summer of 2024, he chose to move to Europe, signing with Ratiopharm Ulm, with whom he played in the Basketball Bundesliga and the EuroCup, a competition he finished with 6.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game.