Road to FIBA AmeriCup 2022: Getting to know Brazil

MIAMI (United States) – FIBA AmeriCup Brazil 2022 is around the corner. With a few weeks to go until the opening game, we’ll start analyzing each and every one of the 12 national teams competing in the 19th edition of the most prestigious tournament in the continent.

We’ll start with the home country, who will be hosting the event for the second time in history. Brazil has great tradition in the region and a rich history, transcending beyond the continent, with multiple participations in World Cups and Olympic Games.

 

FIBA World Ranking, presented by Nike: 14

Honoring history and tradition, Brazil has always been recognized as one of the best national teams in the world. Right now, they’re in the No. 3 spot in the continent.

AmeriCup debut: 1980

The Brazilians had their inaugural showing in the first edition, played in 1980 in Puerto Rico. On that occasion, only seven national teams participated.

AmeriCup appearances (including 2022): 19

They’re one of four national teams to have participated in all editions of AmeriCup, previously known as the FIBA Americas Championship.

Most recent appearance: 2017

Brazil’s performances in the competition have been a little underwhelming in the recent past. In 2017 they had their worst showing in history by finishing 10th. Further back, in 2013 and 2015 they finished in the 9th spot.

Best showing: 1984, 1988, 2005, 2009

Brazil lifted the trophy for the first time in 1984 while hosting the tournament. Then, in 1988, they defended the title in Uruguay. Their last two times winning gold were in 2005 in the Dominican Republic and 2009 in Puerto Rico. They are the country with the second most titles, with four gold medals. They also have two silver medals and four bronze.

Emblematic players:

Oscar Schmidt

To speak of Brazilian basketball is to speak of Schmidt. The former small forward is the sport’s all-time leading scorer with 49,737 points during a fruitful career between professional clubs and the Brazilian national team. He’s also the all-time leading scorer of World Cups and Olympic Games, where he’s tied for the most appearances with five Games.

A member of the FIBA Hall of Fame and known as “La Mano Santa” (the holy hand), he led the Brazilian national team to the AmeriCup title in 1984 and again in 1988 in Uruguay. During a brilliant career with the green and yellow jersey, he scored 7,693 points in 326 games, averaging 23.6 points per game. At AmeriCup, he has the highest scoring average (32.8 points per game in the 1989 edition).

Leandro Barbosa

With 14 seasons in the NBA, a Sixth Man of the Year award (2007) and a ring (2015) with the Golden State Warriors, Leandrinho has been one of the most successful players from his country. However, his career in the best league in the world didn’t stop him, most times, from representing his country at the international level. He played in five World Cups, most recently in 2019, where he announced his retirement from the team.

At AmeriCup, Barbosa was the cornerstone of Brazil’s last two titles. In 2005 at the Dominican Republic, he averaged 21.2 points per game, while in 2009 at Puerto Rico, he averaged 21.1.

Current star:

Bruno Caboclo

The power forward is one of those expected to take the leadership mantle with the national team. That group of players also includes Raúl Neto, Didi Louzada and Cristiano Felicio, among others. In recent years, Caboclo has gained in importance with the national team and shined accordingly. He made his AmeriCup debut in 2017 and then played at the FIBA World Cup 2019 in China. He then led the team in minutes (26.7 per game) in the Olympic Qualifiers in Croatia and delivered with 10.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

After seven seasons in the NBA and one in France, he returned to Brazil to play for Sao Paulo, where he won the Basketball Champions League Américas 2022 and took home the MVP trophy.

Other players who’ve recently played well in the FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers are forward Leo Meindl (12.5 points per game), shooting guard Vítor Benite (11.0) and point guard Yago Santos (8.3 and 6.5 assists). Veteran guard Marcelinho Huertas could soon join the squad.

How they qualified:

In AmeriCup Qualifiers, the team showed its strength and face little adversity along the way, finishing undefeated (4-0) in Group B with solid wins over Uruguay, Panama and Paraguay.

Projection:

Brazil comes in with the highest of expectations as the host country. The mission will be to repeat the feat from 1984, where they won gold at home. Brazil will share Group A with Canada, Colombia and Uruguay.

After a great performance at the qualifiers for this tournament, they kept positive momentum during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers.

FIBA