FIBA AmeriCup 2025 – Team profile: Brazil

MIAMI (United States) – Brazil enters the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 looking to avenge its loss to Argentina in the 2022 final on home soil. Now, Brazil will look to settle the score in Nicaragua with all the tools to make another title run. The Brazilians had two very strong years. In 2023, they finished 13th at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. In 2024, they returned to the Olympic Games after missing out in 2020 and finishing seventh in Paris. As many as seven players from the Paris 2024 roster are included on the preliminary AmeriCup list. Then, during the Qualifiers for the continental event, the team dominated Group B with a 5-1 record.

Brazil is currently ranked 12th in the FIBA World Ranking and fourth in the Americas.

Tournament history

Brazil is one of only four national teams to have participated in all 20 AmeriCup editions, including this year’s tournament. The country ranks second in titles, with four championships (1984, 1988, 2005, 2009), trailing behind the United States. Brazil also ranks second in total medals, with 11 (three silver and four bronze).

Players to watch

Versatile big man Bruno Caboclo is one of the most prominent names on the roster. Although he had a relatively quiet season with Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel, averaging 10.2 points and 4.6 rebounds, he tends to elevate his game whenever he puts on the verde-amarela. At Paris 2024, for instance, he averaged 17.3 points and 7.0 rebounds.

Point guard Yago Santos is expected to play a larger role following the retirement of longtime floor leader Marcelinho Huertas. Coming off the bench for Crvena Zvezda in the EuroLeague, Yago averaged 6.3 points and 3.3 assists. Other members of the Paris 2024 squad on the preliminary roster include sharpshooter Vitor Benite, Georginho De Paula, Lucas Dias, Leo Meindl y Maozinha Pereira. Pereira, who recently played in the NBA Summer League, ended up signing to play in the Turkish league.

Head coach: Aleksandar Petrovic

The veteran Croatian coach is in his second stint with Brazil. His first run was from 2017 to 2021. During that time, he led the team to the 2019 World Cup but fell short of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. He returned in 2024 and delivered on that goal, leading Brazil back to the Olympic stage by winning the qualifying tournament in Latvia.

Outlook

If Brazil avoids significant absences, the team will have one of the most complete rosters in the entire tournament. They have all the ingredients needed to contend for the title: talent, depth, experience, and a strong coaching staff. Brazil will play in Group A alongside Uruguay, the Bahamas, and the United States. The team will be expected to battle for the top spot with the Americans. Uruguay, which faced Brazil twice in the qualifiers, lost both games but kept the contests close.

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