BASKETBALL PLAYERS from Brazil

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Brazilian Basketball Players of all time. This list of famous Brazilian Basketball Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Brazilian Basketball Players.

1. Oscar Schmidt (1958 - )

With an HPI of 50.62, Oscar Schmidt is the most famous Brazilian Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 24 different languages on wikipedia.

Oscar Daniel Bezerra Schmidt (born February 16, 1958), nicknamed Mão Santa (Holy Hand), is a Brazilian retired professional basketball player. Schmidt primarily played the power forward and small forward position, was 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) tall and weighed 109 kg (240 lbs). Along with his home country, Schmidt also played in Italy for JuveCaserta and Pavia, and Spain for Fórum Valladolid. He was born in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. He was considered to be the all-time leading scorer in the history of basketball, with 49,737 career points scored (pro club league play, plus senior Brazilian national team play combined) until he was surpassed by Lebron James. He is the record holder for the longest career span of a professional basketball player at 29 years. He is also the top scorer in the history of the Summer Olympic Games, and the top scorer in the history of the FIBA World Cup. He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991. He received the Olympic Order in 1997. On August 20, 2010, Schmidt became a FIBA Hall of Fame player, in recognition of his play in international competitions. On September 8, 2013, Schmidt was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Italian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

2. Ruy de Freitas (1916 - 2012)

With an HPI of 42.33, Ruy de Freitas is the 2nd most famous Brazilian Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Ruy de Freitas, also commonly known as Tio Ruy (24 August 1916 – 2 August 2012) was a Brazilian professional basketball player and coach, who competed in two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1948. He was born in Brasília. At his first appearance in London he won the bronze medal with the Brazilian basketball team under the guidance of head coach Moacyr Daiuto.

3. Leandro Barbosa (1982 - )

With an HPI of 39.14, Leandro Barbosa is the 3rd most famous Brazilian Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 36 different languages.

Leandro Mateus Aparecida Barbosa (Portuguese pronunciation: [leˈɐ̃dɾu baʁˈbozɐ]; born November 28, 1982), also known as Leandrinho Barbosa, is a Brazilian former professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also represented the senior Brazilian national basketball team. He previously won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, with the Suns in 2007, and an NBA championship with Golden State in 2015. In Brazil, he is also commonly known by his nickname "Leandrinho" ("Little Leandro") Barbosa, and in the United States he was nicknamed "The Brazilian Blur", referring to his playing speed. At a height of 1.92 m (6' 33⁄4") tall, he played at the shooting guard position.

4. Hortência Marcari (1959 - )

With an HPI of 37.88, Hortência Marcari is the 4th most famous Brazilian Basketball Player.  Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Hortência Maria de Fátima Marcari (born September 23, 1959) is a former basketball player who is often considered to be one of the greatest female basketball players in Brazil, along with Paula, and regarded by specialists as one of the world's greatest female basketball players of all time. Marcari is a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted in 2002), the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted in 2005), and FIBA Hall of Fame (inducted in 2007). She is known in her country as Hortência, and her nickname is The Queen.

5. Anderson Varejão (1982 - )

With an HPI of 36.26, Anderson Varejão is the 5th most famous Brazilian Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 28 different languages.

Anderson França Varejão (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈɐ̃deʁsõ ˈfɾɐ̃sɐ vɐɾeˈʒɐ̃w]; born September 28, 1982) is a Brazilian former professional basketball player who played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), 13 of those with the Cleveland Cavaliers. With a career that spanned four professional leagues, he also played for Franca and the Flamengo of the Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB), Barcelona of the EuroLeague and Liga ACB, and has been a regular member of the Brazilian national team, winning a gold medal in 2003 at the Pan American Games.

6. Marcelo Huertas (1983 - )

With an HPI of 35.68, Marcelo Huertas is the 6th most famous Brazilian Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Marcelo "Marcelinho" Tieppo Huertas (born 25 May 1983) is a Brazilian professional basketball player and the team captain for Lenovo Tenerife of the Spanish Liga ACB and the Basketball Champions League. He is also a member of the senior men's Brazilian national basketball team, and holds Italian citizenship. At 32 years old he was the second oldest rookie in the NBA after Pablo Prigioni and before Andre Ingram. After signing with the Lakers in 2015 he played 1+1⁄2 seasons with the Lakers before returning to Spain in 2017.

7. Tiago Splitter (1985 - )

With an HPI of 35.44, Tiago Splitter is the 7th most famous Brazilian Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 32 different languages.

Tiago Splitter Beims (born January 1, 1985) is a Brazilian former basketball player and current coach. He is currently an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A three-time All-EuroLeague Team selection prior to his NBA career, he became the first Brazilian-born player to win an NBA championship, in 2014, as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.

8. Nenê (1982 - )

With an HPI of 33.83, Nenê is the 8th most famous Brazilian Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 33 different languages.

Nenê (Portuguese pronunciation: [neˈne]; born Maybyner Rodney Hilário; September 13, 1982) is a Brazilian former professional basketball player. Known previously as Nenê Hilario, he legally changed his name to simply Nenê in 2003.

9. Marcelinho Machado (1975 - )

With an HPI of 28.85, Marcelinho Machado is the 9th most famous Brazilian Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Marcelo "Marcelinho" Magalhães Machado (born 12 April 1975) is a former Brazilian professional basketball player. At a height of 2.01 m (6'7") tall, and a weight of 95 kg (210 lbs.), he played at the shooting guard and small forward positions, with small forward being his main position. He spent most of his career playing with Flamengo in Brazil's top-tier level NBB league, and he was also a long-time member of the senior men's Brazilian national basketball team.

10. Raul Neto (1992 - )

With an HPI of 27.68, Raul Neto is the 10th most famous Brazilian Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Raul "Raulzinho" Togni Neto (Brazilian Portuguese: [haˈuw toɲɲi ˈnɛtu]; born 19 May 1992) is a Brazilian professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroLeague. He is also a member of the senior men's Brazilian national basketball team. Neto also holds an Italian passport.