Leandrinho is from Flamengo
NBA player signs with the red-black club until December
By Official Website Team - in
The red-and-black constellation gained another star. Flamengo agreed, on Thursday afternoon (August 18.08), to sign wing/point guard Leandrinho Barbosa from the NBA's Toronto Raptors. The club took advantage of the strike in the American Basketball League, declared in July, to sign the player until December. During the "lockout" period, athletes are authorized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to play for other teams, on the condition that they return to their teams at the end of the strike.
Leandrinho will be officially presented at the red-black team's training session, this Friday (19.08), at 11 am, at the Hélio Maurício Gymnasium, in Gávea.
"Today is a particularly happy day for all Flamengo fans. Leandrinho is another signing that reflects the greatness and strength of Flamengo. It's an honor for the nation to have one of the greatest basketball players in the world, who joins the other stars of Gávea," said President Patrícia Amorim, thanking the partners who made the signing possible:
"I'd like to give special thanks to BMG and Banco Plural, who made this project financially viable. As I often say, great athletes always have a place at Flamengo. Whether it's basketball, soccer, swimming, rowing, gymnastics—wherever it may be, Flamengo is Flamengo," he concluded.
"It's a great feeling to be part of this nation. Flamengo has a wonderful fan base, and it will be an honor to wear the red-and-black jersey. I also wanted to share this happiness with my teammate Marcelinho Machado," said Leandrinho after signing the contract. "I'm very happy to be back playing in Brazil after so long, as Brazilian basketball has evolved so much in recent years. I had offers from China, Turkey, and other countries, but I was sure I would be much happier here," he added.
One of the most successful Brazilians in the NBA, Leandro Mateus Barbosa, better known as Leandrinho, began his career in 1999, at age 17, with Palmeiras (SP). In 2001, he transferred to Bauru (SP) and was named the newcomer of the Campeonato Paulista. The following year, he won the Brazilian title.
His NBA debut came in the 2003-2004 season with the Phoenix Suns. Averaging 12,9 points, 2,7 assists, 1,0 steals, and 2,4 rebounds per game, he was named the league's best sixth man in the 2006-2007 season. He has played for the Toronto Raptors since 2010.
This year, for personal reasons, he asked to be released from the Brazilian team that will compete in the Pre-Olympics in Mar del Plata, Argentina, at the end of the month.
Leandrinho was considered, in a survey by Época Magazine, one of the 100 most influential Brazilians of 2009. In the same year, he founded the first basketball camp in Brazil, the "Leandrinho Basketball Camp", in São Bernardo do Campo, bringing together high-level professionals to teach basketball to young people from all over the country.
Reinforced
Leandrinho is the team's fourth signing for the 2011/2012 season. At the end of July, the club presented the team, which will also feature Argentine forward/center Federico Kammerichs, bronze medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Brazilian national team center Caio Torres and American forward/point guard David Jackson, voted the best player in his position in the 2010 and 2011 editions of the Argentine League.
The team's first challenge will be the State Championship, scheduled to begin at the end of September. After that, Flamengo will compete in the South American League and the NBB (New Basketball Brazil).
Leandrinho will be officially presented at the red-black team's training session, this Friday (19.08), at 11 am, at the Hélio Maurício Gymnasium, in Gávea.
"Today is a particularly happy day for all Flamengo fans. Leandrinho is another signing that reflects the greatness and strength of Flamengo. It's an honor for the nation to have one of the greatest basketball players in the world, who joins the other stars of Gávea," said President Patrícia Amorim, thanking the partners who made the signing possible:
"I'd like to give special thanks to BMG and Banco Plural, who made this project financially viable. As I often say, great athletes always have a place at Flamengo. Whether it's basketball, soccer, swimming, rowing, gymnastics—wherever it may be, Flamengo is Flamengo," he concluded.
"It's a great feeling to be part of this nation. Flamengo has a wonderful fan base, and it will be an honor to wear the red-and-black jersey. I also wanted to share this happiness with my teammate Marcelinho Machado," said Leandrinho after signing the contract. "I'm very happy to be back playing in Brazil after so long, as Brazilian basketball has evolved so much in recent years. I had offers from China, Turkey, and other countries, but I was sure I would be much happier here," he added.
One of the most successful Brazilians in the NBA, Leandro Mateus Barbosa, better known as Leandrinho, began his career in 1999, at age 17, with Palmeiras (SP). In 2001, he transferred to Bauru (SP) and was named the newcomer of the Campeonato Paulista. The following year, he won the Brazilian title.
His NBA debut came in the 2003-2004 season with the Phoenix Suns. Averaging 12,9 points, 2,7 assists, 1,0 steals, and 2,4 rebounds per game, he was named the league's best sixth man in the 2006-2007 season. He has played for the Toronto Raptors since 2010.
This year, for personal reasons, he asked to be released from the Brazilian team that will compete in the Pre-Olympics in Mar del Plata, Argentina, at the end of the month.
Leandrinho was considered, in a survey by Época Magazine, one of the 100 most influential Brazilians of 2009. In the same year, he founded the first basketball camp in Brazil, the "Leandrinho Basketball Camp", in São Bernardo do Campo, bringing together high-level professionals to teach basketball to young people from all over the country.
Reinforced
Leandrinho is the team's fourth signing for the 2011/2012 season. At the end of July, the club presented the team, which will also feature Argentine forward/center Federico Kammerichs, bronze medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Brazilian national team center Caio Torres and American forward/point guard David Jackson, voted the best player in his position in the 2010 and 2011 editions of the Argentine League.
The team's first challenge will be the State Championship, scheduled to begin at the end of September. After that, Flamengo will compete in the South American League and the NBB (New Basketball Brazil).