Anderson Varejão

Anderson Varejão

Varejão in 2014
No. 18 – Golden State Warriors
Position Center / Power forward
League NBA
Personal information
Born (1982-09-28) September 28, 1982
Colatina, Brazil
Nationality Brazilian
Listed height 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight 273 lb (124 kg)
Career information
NBA draft 2004 / Round: 2 / Pick: 30th overall
Selected by the Orlando Magic
Playing career 1998–present
Career history
1998–2002 Franca Basquetebol Clube
2002–2004 FC Barcelona
2004–2016 Cleveland Cavaliers
2016–present Golden State Warriors
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  Brazil
FIBA Americas Championship
2001 Neuquén National team
2005 Santo Domingo National team
2009 San Juan National team
South American Basketball Championship
2003 Montevideo National team
Pan American Games
2003 Santo Domingo National team

Anderson França Varejão (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈɐ̃deʁsõ ˈfɾɐ̃sɐ vɐɾeˈʒɐ̃w]; VAYR-ǝ-zhow; born September 28, 1982) is a Brazilian professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He spent 12 seasons in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, endearing himself to his teammates with his hustle and becoming one of the franchise's most popular players.[1] Varejão is also a regular member of the Brazilian national team, winning a gold medal in 2003 at the Pan American Games.

Early career

From 1998 to 2002, Varejão played for Franca Basquetebol Clube in the city of Franca, São Paulo. After averaging 17.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3 blocks per game in the first half of the 2001–02 season for Franca, Varejão signed with FC Barcelona Bàsquet of the Liga ACB in January 2002. In nine Euroleague games, he averaged 4.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. In two regular season Liga ACB games, he averaged 4.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game.[2]

In 2002–03, Varejão appeared in four regular season Liga ACB games for Barcelona, averaging 8.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. While Varejão did not play in the 2003 Liga ACB playoffs, Barcelona, led by Juan Carlos Navarro, Šarūnas Jasikevičius and Dejan Bodiroga, won the Liga ACB championship. Varejão also played in 22 Euroleague games (starting in one), helping Barcelona to their first ever Euroleague championship. He averaged 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. He later scored one point in the Euroleague championship game against Benetton Treviso.[2]

In 2003–04, Varejão appeared in 27 regular season Liga ACB games for Barcelona, averaging 7.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Varejão once again did not play in the playoffs, but Barcelona, led by Navarro and Bodiroga, won its second straight Liga ACB championship. Varejão also played in 18 Euroleague games, averaging 7.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.[2]

NBA career

Cleveland Cavaliers (2004–2016)

2004–05 season

Varejão was selected by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2004 NBA draft, 30th overall. On July 23, 2004, the Magic traded Varejão, along with Drew Gooden and Steven Hunter, to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Tony Battie and two future second-round picks.[3]

In his rookie season, Varejão played in 54 games and averaged 4.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 16 minutes played per game.[4] He had a season high 14 points on March 26, 2005 against the Dallas Mavericks and a season high 14 rebounds on January 15, 2005 against the Utah Jazz.[5] He ranked first in the NBA in steals per turnover (1.58), fourth in the NBA in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes (6.1), second among rookies in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes (6.1), and fourth in total rebounds per 48 minutes (14.3).[2]

2005–06 season

After missing the first 32 games of the 2005–2006 season with a dislocated right shoulder, Varejão played in 48 games played (four starts), and in under 16 minutes a game averaged 4.8 points and 4.6 rebounds.[4] Varejão had a season high 14 points on two occasions and a career high 18 rebounds on April 19, 2006 against the Atlanta Hawks.[6]

On February 21, 2006, fans at Quicken Loans Arena attempted to break the Guinness World Record for "most people wearing wigs in a single venue" when 20,562 fans wore wigs given away before the game in celebration of Varejão's unique hairstyle.[7] All fans in attendance were instructed to put the wigs on during a timeout. It does not appear, however, that the fans were successful, as the Philadelphia Flyers now claim to have the wig wearing record with 9,315.[8]

As a major contributor during the Cavaliers' 2006 playoff run, Varejão averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds[4] (equating to 11.7 rebounds per 48 minutes played). During the Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the Detroit Pistons, he uncharacteristically shot over 80% from the free throw line and played a big part in the Cavaliers' wins in Game 3 (16 points)[6] and Game 4 (drawing a charge from Chauncey Billups with 29 seconds left to play and by preventing Richard Hamilton from making a potentially game-winning shot).[9]

2006–07 season

Anderson Varejão, in a 2006 home game for the Cavaliers

In the 2006–2007 season, Varejão received increased minutes from Mike Brown. In 81 games played (six starts), he averaged 6.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game[4] and was a staple on defense, taking 99 charges in the season, which was the most in the NBA.[10] Varejão also tied with Al Harrington for eighth in the NBA in personal fouls (269) and was eighth in the NBA's Defensive Rating.[11]

Varejão had a career high 17 points on December 11, 2006 against the New Orleans Hornets and a season high 17 rebounds (including a career high nine offensive rebounds) against the Utah Jazz on February 14.[12]

Varejão played in all 20 of the Cavs' playoff games, averaging 6.0 points and 6.0 rebounds.[4] He had a playoff high 14 points and a career playoff high 14 rebounds in a Game 2 loss to Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals.[12] Varejão helped the Cavaliers reach the 2007 NBA Finals, but they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in four games.

2007–08 season

In the 2007 offseason Varejão became a restricted free agent, and he did not sign a contract with the Cavaliers at the start of the 2007–08 NBA season. On December 4, 2007, he signed a two-year $11.1 million offer sheet (with a player option for a third year at $6.2 million) with the Charlotte Bobcats. Under the NBA's collective bargaining rules, the Cavaliers had one week to match the offer sheet,[13] which the Cavaliers did on December 5.[14]

In 48 regular season games played (13 starts), Varejão averaged career highs in minutes (27.5), rebounds (8.3), offensive rebounds (2.8), and assists (1.1).[4] He had a season high and tied his career high with 17 points on April 2, 2008 against the Charlotte Bobcats, a season high and career high tying 18 rebounds on January 11, 2008 (also against the Bobcats), and a career high six assists on March 8, 2008 against the Indiana Pacers.[15] In his 13 starts, he averaged 7.9 points and 10.1 rebounds.[16]

In 13 playoff games, Varejão averaged 4.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and a career playoff high 0.7 assists. Varejão scored 12 points in a Game Four win against the Boston Celtics and pulled down 10 rebounds in a Game Two loss to the Celtics.

2008–09 season

On November 7, 2008, Varejao scored a then career-high 18 points in a win against the Indiana Pacers. On January 2, 2009, Varejao eclipsed his personal best by scoring a career-high 26 points in a win over the Chicago Bulls. After the 2008–09 NBA season, Varejao reached an agreement with the Cavaliers to sign a six-year contract worth $42.5 million.[17]

2009–10 season

During the 2009–10 season, Varejão played in 76 games, but only started in seven. He still averaged 8.6 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game in 28.5 minutes per game. The Cavaliers once again made the playoffs in the 2009–10 season where they eventually lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.[18]

2010–11 season

Varejão became the Cavaliers' starting center. He averaged 9.1 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game, but after playing in 31 games, he was forced to miss the rest of the season because of a torn tendon in his right ankle suffered on January 6.[19]

2011–12 season

Once again, Varejão was Cleveland's starting center, but this time he suffered a broken right wrist on February 10, causing him to miss the rest of the season.[20] In 25 games played, Varejao averaged 10.8 points and 11.5 rebounds. He set his then career high with 20 rebounds on January 31, 2012; he also added 20 points in the game.

2012–13 season

Varejão goes in for a layup in 2012

On January 21, 2013, it was announced that Varejão would miss the remainder of the 2012–13 season after being hospitalized for a blood clot in his lung. He had been averaging 14.4 rebounds a game.[21]

2013–14 season

In 2013–14, Varejão started just 29 games for the Cavaliers as the team had Andrew Bynum in the first half of the season and Spencer Hawes in the second. After starting early on, Varejão lost his spot in mid-November to Bynum before reclaiming it in late December after Bynum was suspended indefinitely by the team. Bynum was traded in January and the Cavaliers acquired Hawes in February. It was around this time that Varejão was sidelined for a month with back soreness,[22] and upon his return in March, he came off the bench for the rest of the season. Varejão finished the season averaging 8.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 65 games.[23]

2014–15 season

On October 31, 2014, Varejão signed a multi-year contract extension with the Cavaliers.[24] Having returned to form in 2014–15 playing alongside LeBron James once again, Varejão tore his Achilles on December 23 against the Minnesota Timberwolves and was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the season.[25] Without Varejão, the Cavaliers made it to the 2015 NBA Finals, but they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.

2015–16 season

Varejão made his return to action in the Cavaliers' season opening loss to the Chicago Bulls on October 27, 2015. In 11 minutes of action off the bench, he recorded two points and two rebounds.[26]

On February 18, 2016, Varejão was traded, along with a future first-round draft pick, to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for a future second-round pick.[27] Upon being acquired by Portland, he was waived by the team.[28]

Golden State Warriors (2016–present)

On February 22, 2016, Varejão signed with the Golden State Warriors.[29] On February 24, he made his debut for the Warriors against the Miami Heat, recording one point, three rebounds and one assist in 10 minutes of action off the bench in a 118–112 win.[30] The Warriors won an NBA record 73 games to eclipse the 72 wins set by the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls. Varejão helped the Warriors overcome a 3–1 deficit in the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the series in seven games. The Warriors moved on to the 2016 NBA Finals, where they faced Varejao's former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Varejão is the first player in NBA history to play for both Finals teams in the same season.[31] Despite the Warriors going up 3–1 in the series following a Game 4 win, they went on to lose the series in seven games to become the first team in NBA history to lose the championship series after being up 3–1.

On July 17, 2016, Varejão re-signed with the Warriors.[32]

Player profile

Varejão earned the nickname "Wild Thing" because of his wild hair and energetic and relentless style of play.[33] He has been criticized for flopping (simulating violent contact in an attempt to prompt a personal foul call): Ian Thomsen, a Sports Illustrated columnist, grouped him with fellow foreign players Vlade Divac and Manu Ginóbili as the players who "made [flopping] famous", exaggerating contact on the court in a manner analogous to diving in association football games.[34] Long-time Cavaliers teammate LeBron James considered that criticism invalid and asserted, "He's taking physical charges."[35][36][37]

National team career

Varejão has been a regular member of the Brazilian national team since 2002, winning a gold medal in 2003 at the Pan American Games and competing in every world championship between 2002 and 2014.[38] On August 23, 2006, Varejão committed a controversial foul during a preliminary game of the 2006 FIBA World Championship against Greece. The foul involved Varejão elbowing Greek point guard Nikos Zisis in the face.[39]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2004–05 Cleveland 54 0 16.0 .513 .000 .535 4.8 .5 .8 .7 4.9
2005–06 Cleveland 48 4 15.8 .527 .000 .513 4.9 .4 .6 .4 4.6
2006–07 Cleveland 81 6 23.9 .476 .000 .616 6.7 .9 .9 .6 6.8
2007–08 Cleveland 48 13 27.5 .461 .000 .598 8.3 1.1 .8 .5 6.7
2008–09 Cleveland 81 42 28.5 .536 .000 .616 7.2 1.0 .9 .8 8.6
2009–10 Cleveland 76 7 28.5 .572 .200 .663 7.6 1.1 .9 .9 8.6
2010–11 Cleveland 31 31 32.1 .528 .000 .667 9.7 1.5 .9 1.2 9.1
2011–12 Cleveland 25 25 31.4 .514 .000 .672 11.5 1.7 1.4 .7 10.8
2012–13 Cleveland 25 25 36.0 .478 .000 .755 14.4 3.4 1.5 .6 14.1
2013–14 Cleveland 65 29 27.7 .495 .000 .681 9.7 2.2 1.1 .6 8.4
2014–15 Cleveland 26 26 24.5 .555 .000 .733 6.5 1.3 1.1 .6 9.8
2015–16 Cleveland 31 0 10.0 .421 .000 .762 2.9 .6 .4 .2 2.6
2015–16 Golden State 22 0 8.5 .438 .000 .552 2.3 .7 .2 .2 2.6
Career 613 208 24.4 .511 .024 .630 7.3 1.2 .9 .7 7.4

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2006 Cleveland 13 0 18.3 .620 .000 .703 4.5 .2 .7 .2 6.8
2007 Cleveland 20 0 22.4 .511 .000 .563 6.0 .6 1.0 .6 6.0
2008 Cleveland 13 0 18.5 .407 .000 .429 5.2 .7 .6 .1 4.1
2009 Cleveland 14 14 30.0 .500 .000 .682 6.4 .6 1.3 1.1 6.9
2010 Cleveland 11 0 23.2 .417 .000 .742 6.5 .6 1.0 .8 5.7
2016 Golden State 17 0 5.5 .357 .000 .526 1.2 .8 .1 .1 1.2
Career 88 14 19.2 .488 .000 .618 4.8 .6 .5 .8 5.0

References

  1. ↑ "LeBron, Love power Cavs after trade of popular Varejao". NBA.com. February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Anderson Varejao Stats, Video, Bio, Profile". NBA.com. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Cavs also get Varejao, Hunter". ESPN. July 24, 2004. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Anderson Varejao Profile". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Anderson Varejao 2004–2005 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Anderson Varejao 2005–2006 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Cavs Fans Ready to Break the World "Wig-Wearing" Record". NBA.com. February 17, 2006. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Flyers Unofficially Break Wig Record". NHL.com. October 30, 2006. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Cavaliers Silence Wallace, Even Series With Pistons". NBA.com. May 15, 2006. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Taking the Charge – NBA offensive fouls drawn from". 82games.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  11. ↑ "2006–2007 NBA Leaders". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Anderson Varejao 2006–2007 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  13. ↑ Cranston, Mike (December 4, 2007). "Bobcats sign Cavaliers holdout Varejao to offer sheet". USAToday.com. Retrieved December 4, 2007.
  14. ↑ "Cavaliers match offer by Bobcats, Varejao to stay with Cleveland". ESPN. December 5, 2007. Retrieved December 6, 2007.
  15. ↑ "Anderson Varejao 2007–2008 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Anderson Varejao 2007–2008 Splits". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  17. ↑ Ford, Chad (July 9, 2009). "Varejao agrees to multiyear deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Anderson Varejao Stats, Video, Bio, Profile". NBA.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  19. ↑ Schmitt Boyer, Mary (January 9, 2011). "Anderson Varejao will miss rest of season with torn tendon in right foot that requires surgery". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  20. ↑ Schmitt Boyer, Mary (April 20, 2012). "Anderson Varejao shut down for rest of season: Cleveland Cavaliers Insider". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Cavs' Varejao out rest of season with blood clot". NBA.com. January 21, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  22. ↑ Finnan, Bob (February 20, 2014). "Cleveland Cavaliers: Anderson Varejao injury didn't influence Spencer Hawes trade". MorningJournal.com. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Anderson Varejao 2013-14 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Cavs and Varejao Sign Contract Extension". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. October 31, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  25. ↑ Windhorst, Brian (December 24, 2014). "Tests show torn Achilles for Varejao". ESPN. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  26. ↑ "With Obama watching, Bulls hold off Cavaliers 97-95". NBA.com. October 27, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Trail Blazers Acquire Future First-Round Draft Pick, Anderson Varejao From Cleveland". NBA.com. February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  28. ↑ "The Trail Blazers have placed F Anderson...". Twitter. February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Warriors Sign Free Agent Center Anderson Varejao". NBA.com. February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Curry, Thompson come through late, Warriors top Heat 118-112". NBA.com. February 24, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  31. ↑ Rogers, Jon (May 30, 2016). "Cavaliers-Warriors NBA Finals means Anderson Varejao will get a ring". SportingNews.com. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Warriors Re-sign Free Agent Center Anderson Varejao". NBA.com. July 17, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Spurs get win, tie for 2nd-lowest scoring game in Finals history". ESPN.com. June 13, 2007. Retrieved June 13, 2007.
  34. ↑ Thomsen, Ian (September 28, 2012). "NBA's new flopping policy the best response to a difficult problem". Sports Illustrated. CNN.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2012. The ugly trend of faking physical contact began in soccer, a sport in which gamesmanship has given way to players writhing in false agony around the world. Soccer has been unable to fix its problem, but now the NBA will have an opportunity to deter players from trying to simulate violent contact in ways made famous by Vlade Divac, Manu Ginobili and Anderson Varejao.
  35. ↑ Gardner, Charles F. (February 21, 2009). "Varejao ready for Oscar night?". JSOnline.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  36. ↑ Chad, Norman (October 12, 2009). "LeBron James still walks, Anderson Varejao still flops, so does NBA need its missing referees? Norman Chad". cleveland.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  37. ↑ Neumann, Thomas (June 7, 2007). "Neumann: All-NBA floppers – ESPN Page 2". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  38. ↑ "Anderson Varejão". FIBA.com. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Cavaliers: The Optimist at the FIBA World Championships, Part II". NBA.com. August 25, 2006. Retrieved January 22, 2012.

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