After progressing through the youth ranks of Banca Tercas Teramo, Polonara debuted in the first division, the Serie A, in the first game of 2009-10 though he rarely featured that season and played sparingly the next.

[3] Teramo was struggling financially and filed for bankruptcy during the summer of 2012, forcing Polonara to find a new club, which he did in July, signing a 3-year contract containing various escape clauses with Cimberio Varese.

[4] Both parties profited from the deal as Polonara contributed 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 23 minutes per game to help the side finish first in the 2012-13 regular season.

However, Varese had an anonymous season, losing to Oldenburg in the Euroleague qualifying rounds despite Polonara's team high 18 points to exit Europe's premier competition.

[7] Demoted to the European second tier EuroCup, Varese finished last in group C to also exit the competition, with Polonara posting 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

[9] Varese lost its main sponsor during the off-season, meaning that Polonara's reported €180,000 final contract year was too costly, he wasn't prepared to take a pay cut and wanted to play in a European competition to keep progressing so left the side.

[10] Polonara joined Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia in July 2014, signing a three-year contract (with a mutual escape clause after the second year) with the EuroCup playing side.

[13] Polonara had his breakout year in the Serie A, playing more minutes (31.1) than any other teammate, he also finished as second best scorer and best rebounder to earn the highest valuation of the team.

In July 2023, Polonara signed a two-year deal with Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA)) and the EuroLeague.

[25] He would rejoin the senior side in 2014, scoring 20 points on his genuine (discounting the All Star Game) debut against German, he then became a regular in Italy squads.

[29][31] A mayor negative is his lanky frame,[31] it can see him struggle defending against inside players or muscular guards, in offense it also limits his post move when he's back to the basket, making him an imperfect fit for the 4 position.