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Brazil is in the men’s Olympics basketball quarterfinals with plenty of help from point guard Yago Santos. The Selecao advanced to the knockout round despite a 1-2 record in the preliminary stages. They joined Greece as one of two third-placed teams who extended their campaign.
Santos has been a big part of the Brazilians’ international campaign since the 2023 FIBA World Cup. With him running the offense, the South Americans earned a berth in one of four Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. Latvia was the only non-host team that failed to make it to Paris because Santos and Co. won the competition.
Yago Santos’ early pro basketball career
Yago dos Santos’ pro basketball career began in 2016 with Paulistano, one of several teams competing in the Novo Basquete Brasil. In 2019, he applied for the NBA draft but couldn’t find a team willing to give him a chance. He went back to Sao Paulo to resume playing for Paulistano.
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The 5-foot-10 point guard took his talents to Flamengo after a four-year stint in Paulistano. It was with the Rio de Janeiro-based team that Santos caught the attention of basketball fans, scouts and analysts. He had become one of Brazil’s best players plying his trade outside Europe.
Ratiopharm Ulm of the German Basketball Bundesliga took a chance on him and gave him a one-year contract. He didn’t disappoint as he led the team to the championship against Telekom Baskets Bonn. Yago Santos became the first and still only Brazilian to win the Finals MVP in the tournament’s history.
Brazil’s point guard won Finals MVP for KK Crvena zvezda
Serbian powerhouse team KK Crvena zvezda acquired Yago Santos after his spectacular one-year tenure in the Bundesliga. The Brazilian immediately helped the team to another KLS championship, its ninth consecutive year holding the national league trophy. For the second straight year, Santos was a Finals MVP.
Santos' next goal will be to lead KK Crvena zvezda in the EuroLeague where the team has underwhelmed for years.
Yago Santos will have an important role for Brazil against Team USA
Brazil’s 102-84 win over Japan booked them a ticket to the quarterfinals and a matchup against the juggernaut Team USA. In the Brazilians’ win over the Japanese, Bruno Caboclo dominated the paint. The big man finished with 33 points and 18 rebounds, half of which came from the offensive glass.
Caboclo’s dominance overshadowed the stellar play of the Selecao’s playmakers led by the durable Marcelinho Huertas, Raul Neto and Yago Santos. The Brazilians maximized their edge in speed and athleticism by relentlessly running the floor every time they had the ball possession. Huertas, Neto and Santos combined for 28 points, 17 assists and eight rebounds.
Santos’ pace will be key for the Selecao against the Americans. Brazil would rather avoid going up against Team USA’s set defense anchored by Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo. The Brazilians can do more damage on the open court where their highly-touted opponents are more vulnerable.
Yago Santos’ ability to probe half-court defenses has improved. Brazil needs him to be poised and in control of the offense when Marcelinho Huertas takes a breather.
