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Nate Sestina (Basketball Player)
Nathan Michael Sestina, Nate Sestina ,born on May 12, 1997, is an American professional basketball player currently representing Valencia in the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroCup. His journey from a high school standout to a recognized professional player is marked by resilience and consistent performance. Sestina’s career has been shaped by his early years in Pennsylvania and his collegiate experience, which laid the foundation for his professional endeavors.
Growing up in St. Marys and later Emporium, Pennsylvania, Sestina developed a passion for basketball early on. His high school career at Cameron County High School was stellar, as he earned the North Tier Conference Player of the Year title by averaging 22.6 points and 14 rebounds per game in his senior year. This impressive performance set the stage for his transition to college basketball, where he continued to hone his skills and build his reputation.
Nate Sestina collegiate career began at Bucknell University, where he faced initial setbacks, including a season-ending shoulder injury. However, his determination saw him through, and he emerged as a key player for the team, especially during his senior year. Averaging 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, he earned a spot on the second team All-Patriot League. His success at Bucknell opened the door to a graduate transfer to the University of Kentucky, where he further showcased his talent and versatility.
Transitioning to professional basketball, Nate Sestina journey has taken him across various leagues and countries. From signing his first professional contract with Kyiv-Basket in Ukraine to playing for teams in Israel and Turkey, and now Valencia in Spain, Sestina has demonstrated adaptability and growth. His international career highlights his continuous development and commitment to the sport, making him a player to watch in the global basketball arena.
St. Marys, Pennsylvania
| Nate Sestina | |
| May 12, 1997 | |
| Name | Nathan Michael Sestina |
| Date of Birth | May 12, 1997 |
| Birth Place | St. Marys, Pennsylvania |
| Nicknamed | Nate Sestina |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 9 in |
| Weight | 234 lb |
| Education |
|
| NBA draft | 2020: undrafted |
| Career | 2021–present |
| Valencia Basket | |
| Position | Power forward/center |
| League |
|
| Career History | |
| 2021 | Long Island Nets |
| 2021 | Hapoel Holon |
| 2021–2022 | Merkezefendi |
| 2022–2023 | Türk Telekom |
| 2023–2024 | Fenerbahçe Beko |
| 2024–present | Valencia |
Early Life and High School Career
Nate Sestina was born in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, and raised in Emporium, Pennsylvania. During his senior year at Cameron County High School, he averaged 22.6 points and 14 rebounds per game, earning the title of North Tier Conference Player of the Year. He graduated with impressive stats, scoring 1,703 points and grabbing 955 rebounds, setting a school record. Nate Sestina chose to play college basketball at Bucknell, selecting it over offers from 11 other schools. He became the first Division I basketball player from PIAA District 9 since 1990 and the first Division I athlete from Cameron County since the 1970s.
College Career
Nate Sestina college career at Bucknell started with a setback due to a season-ending shoulder injury four games into his freshman year, leading to a medical redshirt. In his sophomore year, he played as a reserve in 31 games, averaging 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. As a junior, his performance improved, with averages of 6.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game.
Nate Sestina became a starter in his senior year and had a breakout season, averaging 15.8 points (6th in the Patriot League) and 8.5 rebounds per game (2nd in the conference), earning him a spot on the second team All-Patriot League. After the season, he entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer, ranked as the third-best player in the transfer portal by ESPN, and committed to the University of Kentucky.
In his debut game for Kentucky, Sestina scored seven points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds in a 69–62 win over top-ranked Michigan State, hitting a crucial three-pointer in the second half. Unfortunately, he broke his left wrist six games into the season, causing him to miss four weeks. At the time of the injury, he was averaging 7.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He returned on December 18 against Utah but was scoreless. In his next game against Ohio State, Sestina scored a season-high 17 points. He scored his 1,000th career point during a 13-point game against LSU on February 18, 2020. Nate Sestina finished the season averaging 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in 28 games and was named to the Southeastern Conference Community Service Team.
Professional Career
On July 30, 2020, Nate Sestina signed his first professional contract with Kyiv-Basket of the Ukrainian SuperLeague. Later, he signed with Nizhny Novgorod of the VTB United League on October 13, but was released on November 3 before playing an official game due to the season’s cancellation.
After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Sestina signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Brooklyn Nets on December 1, 2020, but was waived on December 11. He then joined the Long Island Nets, the Nets’ NBA G League affiliate.
On March 15, 2021, he signed with Hapoel Holon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. On July 8, 2021, he moved to Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli Basket of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). On June 22, 2022, Nate Sestina signed with Türk Telekom of the Turkish BSL. He mutually parted ways with the club on June 21, 2023.
On July 14, 2023, Nate Sestina signed a two-year deal with Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe. On June 18, 2024, he signed with Valencia of the Spanish Liga ACB.
Career Statistics
College Career Statistics
| Season | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Bucknell | 4 | 0 | 3.5 | .333 | .000 | .500 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| 2016–17 | Bucknell | 31 | 0 | 11.8 | .514 | .261 | .629 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 4.8 |
| 2017–18 | Bucknell | 35 | 0 | 14.9 | .558 | .361 | .776 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 6.5 |
| 2018–19 | Bucknell | 31 | 31 | 27.8 | .519 | .384 | .803 | 8.5 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 15.8 |
| 2019–20 | Kentucky | 28 | 7 | 19.8 | .471 | .401 | .690 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 5.8 |
Professional Career Statistics Table
| Season | Team | League | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Kyiv-Basket | Ukrainian SuperLeague | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2020–21 | Long Island Nets | NBA G League | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2020–21 | Hapoel Holon | Israeli Basketball PL | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2021–22 | Merkezefendi B. Denizli | Turkish BSL | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 2022–23 | Türk Telekom | Turkish BSL | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2023–24 | Fenerbahçe | Turkish BSL/EuroLeague | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2024–Present | Valencia | Spanish Liga ACB/EuroCup | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Personal Life
Nate Sestina’s father, Donald, is a former teacher, basketball coach, and athletic director at Cameron County High School, and his mother, Rachelle, is a teacher and former collegiate swimmer at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He has four siblings, with his two older brothers, Andrew and Jason, both having served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Nate Sestina is engaged to Madison Lilley, a former Kentucky volleyball player and current assistant volleyball coach at Kentucky.
