The Promises of Brazilian Basketball at NBB 2024

Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB) is the biggest men’s basketball competition in the country. The inaugural season took place in 2009 and since then, the audience for this sport has only been growing in Brazil. At the end of last year, the Brazilian men’s basketball team officially entered the Top 10 of the world rankings.

The success of national basketball has a new generation of stars, some even being called up to the NBA. Furthermore, the growing fan base and grassroots initiatives, such as the Amateur Basketball League, ensure that the sport will have a long and prosperous life in the country.

All-Star Game

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Anyone who believed in the growth of national basketball in recent times was right. NBB’s revenue rose 40% last year. According to data from Google, the number of basketball players has doubled since 2022. Without a doubt, the sport is on the rise in the country.

In the wake of the NBA’s success among Brazilian spectators, the NBB has been investing in initiatives inspired by the American league calendar, such as our own All-Star Game, or the “Game of the Stars”. This year, the game took place in March, in São Paulo, involving some of our best players.

We also keep an eye on some of the young promises of national men’s basketball.

Reynan Dos Santos

Being called up to play in the NBA is one of the greatest professional achievements for any basketball player. Reynan dos Santos achieved this feat at just 20 years old. The shooting guard began his career at Franca, where he won the NBB basketball twice, in addition to winning the Champions League of the Americas. Reynan, who had trained in the United States before, confirmed his registration for the 2024 NBA Draft on his social media in April. The event will take place in New York in June.

Patrick Otey

Born in Brasília, Patrick Otey is the son of a Brazilian mother and an American father, spending much of his life in Boston. The 16-year-old is already a standout there, among the top five of his age in the country. He also participated in the Brazilian under-16 team that competed in the last Copa América, finishing as a top scorer in the competition.

Last year, Otey took advantage of a visit to Brasília to do a round of training with even younger athletes, between 13 and 17 years old. This type of event is quite common on the NBA calendar and allowed Otey to show young people from Brasilia a little about how American basketball works.

Zion Sampaio

At 17 years old and measuring 1.96m, Zion Sampaio has been participating in several camps and other events promoted by the NBA. In 2020, the athlete underwent surgery to correct a serious deformity in his chest, briefly interrupting his brilliant trajectory. The recovery lasted approximately three months and soon after, Zion was called up to play for Nike Elite Youth Basketball, playing side by side with LeBron James’ son.

Gui Santos

Currently the only Brazilian athlete in the NBA, Gui Santos does not feel the pressure of success: “I don’t take it that way”. The player was already playing in the lower divisions of American basketball when he was chosen by the Golden Gate Warriors in 2022.

The achievement made Gui dos Santos the 19th Brazilian athlete in NBA history. Gui Santos’ contract with the Golden Gate Warriors runs until 2025. Among Gui’s main ambitions at the moment are winning the North American league and participating in the Brazilian team at the Paris Olympic Games.

Eduardo Bersch Klafke

At 19 years old, Eduardo Klafke is already attracting attention for his performance inside and outside the country. When he was just 17 years old, he was invited to join Ole Miss, the team that represents the University of Mississippi. He was also qualified to participate in the NBA Academy in Latin America and was the youngest player to compete in the NBB, at just 15 years old. He participated in the Brazilian youth, under-18 and under-19 teams and despite his young age, he already has extensive international experience.

Full stop

The quality level of the Brazilian men’s team has increased significantly in recent years. The team’s campaign in the Basketball World Cup, in 2023, demonstrated the ability of our young people to compete on equal terms with major world teams. The FIBA ​​ranking also placed Brazil ahead of traditional names, such as Lithuania and Greece, in 11th place. Certainly, Brazilian fans have every reason to await the next Olympic Games with optimism.

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