Brazil national basketball team

First steps

The Brazil team that competed at the 1934 South American Basketball Championship held in Argentina

Basketball was initially introduced to Brazil by Professor Augusto Shaw in 1896. In 1912, he began organizing the first state tournament and in 1922 the first national team made its debut at games against Argentina and Uruguay. As in the case of football, South America was initially ahead of the rest of the world and in 1930 held the first edition of the South American Championship. In that decade, Brazilian basketball was supported by professional football clubs, to include it as a new sports section, although amateur in nature. Later, these clubs became professional and supported the national team with world-class players.^[2]

Initial success despite budget constraints

In the following years, Brazil became a regular at major international competitions. Its basketball squad participated in the first official basketball tournament at the Summer Olympics 1936 in Berlin. In 1939, the first continental championship was held in Rio de Janeiro. In the 40s, basketball was catching on more layers of society and left the elitist stigma. The sport received the ultimate accolade at the 1948 Olympic Games in London. There, against all odds, the team directed by Moacyr Daiuto (1915–1994) managed to achieve the bronze medal. The team recorded six straight wins until it stopped due to the semi-final defeat to France (33–43). In the bronze medal match, Brazil beat Mexico (52–47). They managed to feature ten amateur players. The pre-Olympic Brazil concentration was very poor in resources. After its time-consuming journey to London, the team was astonishment when they saw how the U.S. team practiced: each player with a ball. Brazil only had two for the whole team.^[2]

The era Kanela

One of the fundamental pillars of Brazilian basketball was the boldness of its coaches. The "father" of them all is Togo Renan Soares, "Kanela" (so nicknamed for his thick white hair). Working in the shadow of the giant football, Kanela (1906–1992) understood that basketball would add more followers if it could only offer new emotions. He aimed to get the influential media involved, so the game was conceived as a spectacle based on its dynamism and aesthetics. The formula worked. Besides the national team, he coached Flamengo which chained ten titles in a row (1951–1960). Born in Joao Pessoa (Paraíba) he had also coached football, rowing and water polo. In his youth, he had studied at a military college. His lengthy workouts alternated with authoritative teaching tone.^[2]

Rise to a global dominance

Brazil playing United States during the 5th Maccabiahin in Israel, 1957

The unstoppable rise of basketball was confirmed at the second World Championship in Rio (1954). The Brazilian team, coached by Kanela, reached the final undefeated and proclaimed runner-up after losing to the global hegemonic basketball power from the U.S. That Brazilian team was equipped with experienced players who won the bronze medal London 1948 and supported through the arrival of two young men. These young men were Amaury Pasos and Wlamir Marques, 18 and 17 years old, respectively. The bet of the visionary Kanela would give tremendous returns in later years.^[2]

Ironically, the Brazilian player leap happened when the team was made up of willing and enthusiastic amateurs. These athletes, who were initiated into the game almost self-taught by imitation of American basketball players who had toured the country. The hard work of Kanela consisted of giving these players basic fundamentals and then lecture them on team concepts. Amaury and Wlamir were his most successful students. Especially their jump shots dazzled at the 54 FIBA World Cup. "Their scoring was smart and technically perfect." said the Brazilian journalist Fábio Balassiano.^[2]

Before playing basketball, Amaury (who measured 1.91m) had practiced swimming, athletics and volleyball, which provided him with much athletic ability. He began his career at Center but later learned to play away from the basket. His partner Wlamir was another former track runner. Standing 1.85 m, Wlamir was a great shooter, had great ball handling skills and an enormous agility and jumping ability, which also helped him to become an excellent rebounder. Amaury and Wlamir fit well into Kanela's system: fast pace, quick transition, and full confidence in the outside shooters.^[2]

After three months of intense preparation in a Marine base, Brazil was presented at the 1959 FIBA World Championship in Chile as a candidate for the podium. In addition to the U.S. (with a team composed of air force players), a very tough opponent emerged that had been absent in the previous tournament: the Soviet Union, European champions and Olympic silver medalist. Kanela had the following starting lineup: Amaury Pasos as playmaker, Wlamir Marques and the veteran 33-year old veteran Algodão as forwards; and Centers Edson Bispo and Waldemar Blatskauskas. For his 7-player rotation, Kanela played mostly his bench players forward Jatyr Schall and guard Pecente Fonseca. There were some minutes also for the young forward Carmo de Souza, and Rosa Branca, a juggler ball, who later received an offer to join the Harlem Globetrotters.^[2]

Tiago Splitter

Leandro Barbosa

Nenê

Anderson Varejão

Throughout its history, the team has won two World Championships (1959 and 1963), three bronze Olympic medals (in 1948, 1960 and 1964), four Americas Championships (1984, 1988, 2005 and 2009) and six Pan American Games (1971, 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015).

Later years

As in 2012, Brazil's top players included Anderson Varejão, Tiago Splitter, Leandro Barbosa, Nenê, Marcelinho Huertas, Alex Garcia, Guilherme Giovannoni and Marquinhos Vieira.

Brazil has five NBA players in 2018: Bruno Caboclo (Sacramento Kings), Cristiano Felício (Chicago Bulls), Nenê (Houston Rockets), Raulzinho Neto (Utah Jazz) and Lucas Nogueira (Toronto Raptors).

Olympic Games

Summer Olympic Games Record
Year	Position	Pld	W	L
1936	9th place	4	2	2
1948	Bronze medal	8	7	1
1952	6th place	8	4	4
1956	6th place	7	3	4
1960	Bronze medal	8	7	1
1964	Bronze medal	9	6	3
1968	4th place	9	6	3
1972	7th place	9	5	4
1976	Did not qualify
1980	5th place	7	4	3
1984	9th place	7	3	4
1988	5th place	8	5	3
1992	5th place	8	4	4
1996	6th place	8	3	5
2000–2008	Did not qualify
2012	5th place	6	4	2
2016	9th place	5	2	3
	Total	111	65	46

FIBA World Cup

FIBA World Cup Record
Year	Result	Pld	W	L
1950	4th place	6	3	3
1954	Runner-up	9	8	1
1959	Champions	9	7	2
1963	Champions	6	6	0
1967	3rd place	9	7	2
1970	Runner-up	9	7	2
1974	6th place	10	4	6
1978	3rd place	10	8	2
1982	8th place	8	5	3
1986	4th place	12	8	4
1990	5th place	8	4	4
1994	11th place	8	2	6
1998	10th place	8	2	6
2002	8th place	9	4	5
2006	19th place	5	1	4
2010	9th place	6	3	3
2014	6th place	7	5	2
2019	TBD
2023	TBD
Total		139	84	55

Pan American Games

Pan American Games Record
Year	Result	Pld	W	L
1951	Bronze Medal	6	3	3
1955	Bronze Medal	5	4	1
1959	Bronze Medal	6	4	2
1963	Silver Medal	6	5	1
1967	7th place	6	4	2
1971	Gold Medal	8	7	1
1975	Bronze Medal	9	7	2
1979	Bronze Medal	9	4	5
1983	Silver Medal	8	5	3
1987	Gold Medal	7	6	1
1991	5th place	7	6	1
1995	Bronze Medal	7	5	2
1999	Gold Medal	5	4	1
2003	Gold Medal	5	5	0
2007	Gold Medal	5	5	0
2011	5th place	4	2	2
2015	Gold Medal	5	5	0
2019	Did not qualify
Total		103	76	27

FIBA AmeriCup

FIBA Americas Championship Record
Year	Result	Pld	W	L
1980	4th place	6	4	2
1984	Champions	8	8	0
1988	Champions	8	7	1
1989	3rd place	8	7	1
1992	3rd place	6	5	1
1993	4th place	7	4	3
1995	3rd place	10	5	5
1997	3rd place	9	6	3
1999	6th place	8	3	5
2001	Runner-up	10	7	3
2003	7th place	8	3	5
2005	Champions	10	7	3
2007	4th place	10	5	5
2009	Champions	10	9	1
2011	Runner-up	10	8	2
2013	9th place	4	0	4
2015	9th place	4	1	3
2017	10th place	3	1	2
	Total	139	90	49

South American Championship

South American Championship Record
Year	Position	Pld	W	L
1930	3rd Place	6	2	4
1932	Did not participate
1934	4th place	6	1	5
1935	Runner-up	4	2	2
1937	3rd place	8	3	5
1938	4th place	4	1	3
1939	Champions	4	3	1
1940	3rd place	5	3	2
1941	5th place	5	1	4
1942	4th place	4	2	2
1943	Did not participate
1945	Champions	5	5	0
1947	Runner-up	5	3	2
1949	Runner-up	5	3	2
1953	Runner-up	6	5	1
1955	3rd place	8	6	2
1958	Champions	7	7	0
1960	Champions	6	6	0
1961	Champions	7	7	0
1963	Champions	8	7	1
1966	Runner-up	7	6	1
1968	Champions	7	6	1
1969	Runner-up	6	4	2
1971	Champions	7	6	1
1973	Champions	7	7	0
1976	Runner-up	6	5	1
1977	Champions	8	8	0
1979	Runner-up	6	5	1
1981	Runner-up	5	4	1
1983	Champions	6	6	0
1985	Champions	7	7	0
1987	3rd place	6	5	1
1989	Champions	5	5	0
1991	Runner-up	8	6	2
1993	Champions	7	7	0
1995	3rd place	7	6	1
1997	4th place	7	5	2
1999	Champions	6	6	0
2001	Runner-up	9	7	2
2003	Champions	6	6	0
2004	Runner-up	6	5	1
2006	Champions	4	3	1
2008	4th place	6	4	2
2010	Champions	5	5	0
2012	4th place	5	3	2
2014	3rd place	5	3	2
2016	Runner-up	6	4	2
Total		271	211	60

Current roster

The roster for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification (Americas) games against Canada on September 13 2018 and Virgin Islands on September 16 2018.^[3]

Brazil men's national basketball team – 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. PG Huertas, Marcelo 7004128950000000000♠35 – (1983-05-25)25 May 1983 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Baskonia PG dos Santos, Yago 7003712800000000000♠19 – (1999-03-09)9 March 1999 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) Paulistano PG Fischer, Ricardo 7003998200000000000♠27 – (1991-05-16)16 May 1991 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Corinthians SG Barbosa, Leandro 7004130730000000000♠35 – (1982-11-28)28 November 1982 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) SG Benite, Vitor 7004104320000000000♠28 – (1990-02-20)20 February 1990 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Cedevita SG Louzada, Marcos 7003701300000000000♠19 – (1999-07-02)2 July 1999 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Franca SF Meindl, Leonardo 7003930800000000000♠25 – (1993-03-20)20 March 1993 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Paulistano SF Luz, Jhonatan 7004115380000000000♠31 – (1987-02-10)10 February 1987 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Flamengo PF Dias, Lucas 7003847000000000000♠23 – (1995-07-06)6 July 1995 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) Franca PF de Souza, Rafael 7004110590000000000♠30 – (1988-06-03)3 June 1988 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) Flamengo C Hettsheimeir, Rafael 7004117770000000000♠32 – (1986-06-16)16 June 1986 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Franca C Varejão, Anderson 7004131340000000000♠35 – (1982-09-28)28 September 1982 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) Flamengo C Lima, Augusto 7003985800000000000♠26 – (1991-09-17)17 September 1991 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Cedevita	Head coach Aleksandar Petrović Assistant coach(es) César Guidetti Bruno Savignani Legend Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on September 13, 2018

- Rafael Hettsheimeir (foot) is injured and was cut.

Head coaches

• Cláudio Mortari: 1980–81
• José Edvar Simões: 1982
• Renato Brito Cunha: 1983–84
• Ary Vidal: 1985–88
• Hélio Rubens Garcia: 1989–90
• José Medalha: 1991–92
• Ênio Vecchi: 1993–94
• Ary Vidal: 1995–96
• Hélio Rubens Garcia: 1997–2002
• Lula Ferreira: 2003–2007
• Moncho Monsalve: 2008–2009
• Gustavo Conti: 2012
• José Neto: 2014
• Ruben Magnano: 2010–2016
• César Guidetti: 2017
• Aleksandar Petrović: 2017– (current head coach)

Past rosters

Scroll down to see more.

Manufacturer

2015–: Nike^[4]

Sponsor

2015–2016: Bradesco
2017: Motorola^[4]