Gustavo De Conti, a multiple champion with Flamengo, is the new coach of the Brazilian men's basketball team. At 41, the coach, who will combine both roles, takes over the national team for the Paris 2024 Olympic cycle, aiming for a spot in the world's biggest sporting event, following Brazil's absence from the Tokyo Olympics.

"I'm very happy with this opportunity. It's a dream come true. Ever since I became a basketball coach, I've dreamed of coaching the Brazilian national team and representing my country. I want to thank Flamengo for their understanding, support, and permission to allow me to also serve in the CBB, alongside the club. I'd like to thank President Rodolfo Landim, Vice President of Olympic Sports Guilherme Kroll, and Director of the Ministry Marcelo Vido. I think it's important to also commend the work of Flamengo's entire coaching staff and thank my teammates, who are essential to my daily role. And, of course, my family, who have always supported me and dreamed with me about this moment," said De Conti. 

"It won't be an easy journey; world basketball is very balanced, but I'm sure we can enter every competition and strive for good things. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask for unity from the entire basketball community, as we'll need everyone to achieve this goal," he added.

Mais Querido's Vice President of Olympic Sports, Guilherme Kroll, spoke about the strengthening of the sport through the partnership between the club and the Brazilian Basketball Confederation.

"We have complete confidence in the CBB and, more importantly, we see the need for the Brazilian National Team to resume its winning ways. The sport is the flagship of Flamengo's Olympic sports and currently receives our largest investment, so we understand the extreme importance of also helping to strengthen the national team, to which Flamengo has always provided athletes. We understand that the natural path for this to happen is for the club to align itself with the Brazilian National Team, as a partner, working together with the CBB with the goal of seeing national basketball increasingly stronger," said the director.

Entering his fourth season as coach of the red-and-black squad, Gustavo De Conti has won two NBB titles, a Champions League, two Super 8 Cups, and three Campeonato Carioca titles with the Orgulho da Nação. It's no surprise that he was named the country's best coach this year—the fourth individual achievement of his career, following his recognition as Brazil's best coach in 2014, 2017, and 2018.

Gustavinho's first commitment with the Brazilian national team will be in November, in the opening round of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers. Brazil will face Chile in two matches on November 25th and 28th, with times and locations yet to be determined. The competition will qualify seven teams from the continent for the World Cup.

Then, at the World Cup itself, the two teams from the Americas with the best record advance directly to Paris 2024. The other top-ranked teams play in the Pre-Olympics.