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NBA fans will remember Bruno Caboclo as the little-known player who displayed stellar lockdown defense against LeBron James. In 2019. the Brazilian forward linked up with Avery Bradley to force the 4x NBA champion to miss 15 shots in a game to help the Memphis Grizzlies win.
Now, the 'Kevin Durant' of Brazil will be Team USA's opponent in the quarterfinal of the 2024 Paris Olympics as they face Brazil on Tuesday.
The 20th overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft was stellar for his national team in their win over Japan earlier. He popped up with 33 points and 17 rebounds in less than 30 minutes to help Brazil notch up a convincing 102-84 win. The 28-year-old now faces a stern challenge when he goes up against the likes of James and co. in the marquee clash coming up in France.
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Closer look at Bruno Caboclo's professional and international careers
A player for Serbian League outfit Partizan Belgrade, Bruno Caboclo has been a bit of a journeyman plying his trade across the world. He signed with Pinheiros of the Novo Basquete Brasil in 2013 and later moved to the NBA.
He had stints with the Raptors who drafted him, the Sacramento Kings, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Houston Rockets. He also had overseas experience with Limoges CSP and Sao Paolo SP before heading to Serbia.
Born in Osasco, Brazil, Caboclo carved a name for himself as a defense-first forward who could also contribute incredibly efficiently on offense. During his time with the Grizzlies, he shot well over 40 percent from the field and bettered it when he later suited up for Partizan.
Paris marks Bruno Caboclo's first appearance in the Olympics. He had previously represented Brazi in the 2019 and 2023 FIBA World Cups. While the first run didn't yield the desired result, his defense was the highlight when he played in the world four years later.
With his 33-point, 17-rebound outburst against Japan, he showed why he was boldly compared to NBA superstar Kevin Durant by former basketball coach Fran Fraschilla on draft night in 2014.
Bruno Caboclo and Brazil take on Team USA on Tuesday (Aug 6) at the Bercy Arena in France at 3:30 pm ET. Only time will tell if Caboclo can force another tough night on James.
