The only Brazilian in the NBA, the Gui Santos, 22, says he believes his participation in the best basketball league in the world is a source of inspiration for more athletes in the country to achieve this dream.
Brazilian players have already built history in the United States, including winning titles such as Tiago Splitter and Leandrinho. Nenê and Anderson Varejão also had a long participation in the League, until the turn to the current decade. After them, however, few found longevity in American basketball.
Gui was the 55th choice of the 2022 draft. In this position in the freshman recruitment system, there was no guarantee of a contract with the main team. The Brazilian passed through Santa Cruz Warriors, part of the G-League (NBA Development League), until he signed a new bond the following year.
Today, he has the opportunity to evolve alongside companions who will certainly be in the hall of basketball fame, cases of Stephen Curry, Daymond Green and Jimmy Butler, under the command of multi -champion coach Steve Kerr.
This trajectory, although with difficulties, brings him a tranquility and a message to other athletes who dream of a spot in the world basketball elite.
“I feel calm about being the only Brazilian in the NBA. In fact, I see as an inspiration, because the dream of all who play basketball is to get there. I being there, being the only Brazilian in the league at the moment, I maintain this hope that this is achievable. I take more to this side, to be an inspiration for the kids,” said Santos to Sheet.
This season, for example, the Brazilian lived his best moment, despite the elimination in the semifinals of the West Conference for Minnesota Timberwolves. There were 56 matches in the regular season, with averages of 4.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists, with 13.6 minutes per game. In the “Playoffs”, played in ten matches.
“After January, I had opportunities and went in well. It was a good year, I was able to show how much I can help in the future. It left that pulver behind the ear about the importance I can have for the team,” he said.
The sensation of the Brazilian is that the Warriors could have done even more were not a Stephen Curry injury in the first match against Timberwolves, won by the out -of -home team at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
“We got this feeling that it could have gone further, that it could have done more if the curry had not hurt. I will even be bold to say that I am sure that we would go to the final. If we had it there, I would have taken a totally different course,” he said, observing the competitiveness of his main colleagues.
“They want to earn everything at any time. It’s the biggest teaching I’ve taken, always wanting to win. Steve is a very quiet guy who needs no comment, because he seems to be another player who is running the substitutions. He explains when you play or not play, makes everything very clear,” he said.
Even before reaching the NBA, Santos managed to do things happen. He professionalized at the age of 16 at Minas Tennis Club, and played in the Paris Olympics for the national team last year.
“Several times I sold raffle, sold sweet, sold a lot of things to try to get some money to travel. It’s that I came from a humble family. It wasn’t a family where things were missing, no, we always had the basics, but we could never squander. It was what we could do at the time and it was even cool. today.”
Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers compete for the finals. The best of seven matches is tied 1-1.
“Between Oklahoma and Indiana, I get Oklahoma, because I think they have a more complete team. The Indiana team is very good, but the Oklahoma team is very young, and the kids have a lot of energy. The kids are always ready there for what to give and comes. I trust Oklahoma team will be champion this season.”
