 Varejão with theCleveland Cavaliers in 2021 | |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | |
|---|---|
| Title | Player Development Consultant and Global Ambassador |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1982-09-28)September 28, 1982 (age 43) Colatina, Brazil |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 2004: 2nd round, 30th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Orlando Magic |
| Playing career | 1998–2021 |
| Position | Center /power forward |
| Number | 17, 18 |
| Career history | |
| 1998–2003 | Franca |
| 2002–2004 | Barcelona |
| 2004–2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2016–2017 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2018–2019 | Flamengo |
| 2021 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Anderson França Varejão (Portuguese pronunciation:[ˈɐ̃deʁsõˈfɾɐ̃sɐvɐɾeˈʒɐ̃w]; born September 28, 1982) is a Brazilian former professionalbasketball player who is currently a Player Development Consultant and Global Ambassador for theCleveland Cavaliers, where he spent 13 of his 14 seasons in theNational Basketball Association (NBA). With a career that spanned four professional leagues, Varejão also played forFranca and theFlamengo of theNovo Basquete Brasil (NBB),Barcelona of theEuroLeague andLiga ACB, and has been a regular member of theBrazilian national team, winning a gold medal in 2003 at thePan American Games.
From 1998 to 2002, Varejão played forFranca Basquetebol Clube in the city ofFranca, São Paulo. After averaging 17.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game in the first half of the 2001–02 season with them, he signed withFC Barcelona Bàsquet of theLiga ACB in January 2002.
In nineEuroLeague games, Varejão 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 assist, and 1.0 steal per game.[1]
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 he did not play in the 2003 Liga ACB playoffs, Barcelona, led byJuan Carlos Navarro,Šarūnas Jasikevičius andDejan 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. Varejão later scored a point in the EuroLeague championship game against Benetton Treviso.[1]
In 2003–04, Varejão appeared in 27 regular season Liga ACB games for Barcelona, averaging 7.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He once again did not play in the playoffs, but Barcelona won its second straight Liga ACB championship, led by Navarro and Bodiroga. Varejão also played in 18 EuroLeague games, averaging 7.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.[1]
Varejão was selected by theOrlando Magic in the second round (30th overall) of the2004 NBA draft.[2] On July 23, 2004, Varejão, along withDrew Gooden andSteven Hunter, were traded to theCleveland Cavaliers in exchange forTony Battie and two future second-round picks.[3]
As a rookie, Varejão came off the bench in 54 games and averaged 4.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 0.8 steals in 16 minutes played per game.[4] He had a season-high 14 rebounds in a 84–71 victory over theUtah Jazz on January 15, 2005, and a season-high 14 points on March 26 in a 117–86 loss to theDallas Mavericks.[5] Varejão 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).[1]
After missing the first 32 games of the 2005–06 season with a dislocated right shoulder, Varejão played in 48 games, starting four and averaging 4.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.4 assists, and 0.6 steals in 15.9 minutes per game.[6] Varejão had a season-high 14 points on two occasions and a career-high 18 rebounds in a narrow 100–99 victory over theAtlanta Hawks on April 19, 2006.[7]
On February 21, 2006, fans atQuicken Loans Arena attempted to break theGuinness World Record for "most people wearing wigs in a single venue" when 20,562 fans worewigs given away before the game in celebration of Varejão's unique hairstyle.[8] All of the fans in attendance were instructed to put the wigs on during a timeout. However, it does not appear that the fans were successful, as thePhiladelphia Flyers now claim to have the wig wearing record with 9,315.[9]
As a major contributor during the Cavaliers' 2006 playoff run, Varejão averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds (equating to 13.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per 36 minutes played) to go along with 0.2 assists and 0.7 steals in 18.3 minutes per game.[4] During the Eastern Conference Semifinals against theDetroit Pistons, the career 63% foul shooter uncharacteristically shot over 80% from the free throw line and played a big part in the Cavaliers' victories in Game 3 (16 points)[7] and Game 4 (drawing a charge fromChauncey Billups with 29 seconds left to play and by preventingRichard Hamilton from making a potentially game-winning shot).[10]
In the 2006–07 season, Varejão received increased minutes from head coachMike Brown. In 81 games played (six starts), Varejão averaged 6.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.9 steals per game.[11] He was a staple on defense as he took 99 charges in the season, which was the most in the NBA.[12] Varejão was also tied withAl Harrington for eighth in the NBA in personal fouls (269) and was eighth in the NBA's Defensive Rating.[13]
On December 11, 2006, Varejão had a then career-high 17 points in a 95–89 loss to theNew Orleans Hornets and a season-high 17 rebounds (including a career high nine offensive rebounds) in a narrow 99–98 loss to theUtah Jazz on February 14, 2007.[14] Varejão played in all 20 of the Cavaliers' playoff games, averaging 6.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 1.0 steals in 22.4 minutes per game.[15] He had a playoff high 14 points and a career playoff high 14 rebounds in a Game 2 79–76 loss to theDetroit Pistons during the Eastern Conference Finals.[14] Varejão helped the Cavaliers reach the2007 NBA Finals, where they lost to theSan Antonio Spurs in a four-game sweep.[16]
In the 2007 offseason, Varejão became arestricted free agent, and he did not sign a contract with the Cavaliers at the start of the2007–08 NBA season. On December 4, 2007, Varejão signed a two-year, $11.1 million offer sheet (with a player option for a third year at $6.2 million) with theCharlotte Bobcats. Under the NBA's collective bargaining rules, the Cavaliers had a week to match the offer sheet,[17] which they did on December 5.[18]
In 48 regular season games (13 starts), Varejão averaged career highs in minutes (27.5), rebounds (8.3), offensive rebounds (2.8), and assists (1.1).[19] On January 11, 2008, he had a season-high and career-high tying 18 rebounds on January 11 in a 113–106 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats, a career high six assists on March 8 in a 103–95 victory over theIndiana Pacers, and a season-high 17 points (tying his career-high) in a 118–114 victory over the Bobcats on April 2.[19] In his 13 starts, Varejão averaged 7.9 points and 10.1 rebounds.[20]
In 13 playoff games, Varejão averaged 4.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and a then career playoff high 0.7 assists in 18.5 minutes.[19] During Game 2 of the Eastern Conference against theBoston Celtics, he had 10 rebounds in the 89–73 loss. Four days later in Game 4, Varejão scored 12 points in the 88–77 victory.
On November 7, 2008, Varejão scored a then career-high 18 points in a 111–107 victory over theIndiana Pacers. On January 2, 2009, he eclipsed his personal best by scoring a career-high 26 points in a 117–92 victory over theChicago Bulls.[21] Varejão finished the 2008–09 season playing in 28.5 minutes per game and averaged 8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 0.9 steals in 81 games and 42 starts.[22]
On July 9, 2009, Varejão reached an agreement with the Cavaliers to sign a six-year contract worth $42.5 million.[23] On December 30, he recorded 14 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks while also making the game-winning three-pointer in a 106–101 victory over theAtlanta Hawks[24] – his only successful three-pointer in 43 career attempts. Despite only starting in seven games during the 2009–10 season, Varejão still averaged 8.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.9 steals playing 28.5 minutes per game in 76 games.[25] The Cavaliers once again made the playoffs, where they eventually lost to theBoston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.[26] Varejão was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team at the end of the season.
Varejão became the Cavaliers' starting center in the 2010–11 season. In 31 games and starts, he played in 32.1 minutes per game, averaging 9.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.9 steals per game, but was forced to miss the rest of the season due to a torn tendon in his foot, which Varejão suffered during a 120–105 loss to theToronto Raptors on January 5, 2011.[27][28]
In the 2011–12 season, Varejão was the starting center again. On January 31 against the Celtics, he set his then career high with 20 rebounds on while also adding 20 points in the 93–90 loss.[29] However, Varejão suffered a broken wrist in a narrow 113–112 loss to theMilwaukee Bucks 10 days later, causing him to miss the rest of the season.[30] In 25 games and starts, Varejão averaged 10.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 steals in 31.4 minutes per game.[31]
During the 2012–13 season opener, a 94–84 victory over theWashington Wizards on October 30, 2012, Varejão returned from injury and nearly acquired atriple-double, recording nine points, a career high nine assists, and a then career high 23 rebounds.[32] Two weeks later against theBrooklyn Nets on November 13, he scored a career-high 35 points while also recording 18 rebounds, three assists, and two steals in the 114–101 loss.[33] However, on January 21, 2013, it was announced that Varejão would miss the rest of the season after being hospitalized due to a blood clot in his lung.[34] Over 25 games and starts in the 2012–13 season, Varejão had career-highs, averaging 14.1 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 steals in 31.4 minutes.[35]
In the 2013–14 season, Varejão started in only 29 games for the Cavaliers as the team hadAndrew Bynum in the first half of the season andSpencer Hawes in the second half. After starting early on in the season, Varejão lost his spot in mid-November to Bynum before reclaiming it in late December after Bynum was suspended indefinitely by the team. On January 2 against theOrlando Magic, Varejão had 18 points and a career-high 25 rebounds in the 87–81 overtime victory.[36][37] In January, Bynum was traded to theIndiana Pacers and the Cavaliers acquired Hawes from thePhiladelphia 76ers in February. Around this time, Varejão was sidelined for a month with back soreness.[38] He returned in March and came off the bench for the rest of the season. Varejão played in 65 games and finished the season averaging 8.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals in 27.7 minutes per game.[39]
On October 31, 2014, Varejão signed a three-year, $30 million contract extension with the Cavaliers.[40][41] He had been having a good offensive season asLeBron James' favorite pick-and-roll partner, shooting 55 percent from the field and averaging 10.0 points and 6.6 rebounds.[42] However, during a 125–104 victory over theMinnesota Timberwolves on December 23, Varejão tore his Achilles and was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the 2014–15 season.[43] Varejão finished the season playing in 24.5 minutes per game and averaged 9.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.7 steals in 26 games and starts.[44] The Cavaliers reached the2015 NBA Finals, where they lost to theGolden State Warriors in six games despite a 2–1 lead.[45]
Varejão returned from injury in time for the narrow season-opening 97–95 loss to theChicago Bulls on October 27, 2015.[46] After averaging 2.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 0.4 steals in 10 minutes per game over 31 games and no starts, Varejão and a future first-round draft pick were traded to thePortland Trail Blazers in exchange for a future second-round pick on February 18, 2016.[47] However, Varejão was waived by the Blazers immediately upon being acquired.[48]
On February 22, 2016, Varejão signed with theGolden State Warriors.[49] He made his Warriors debut two days later[50] and played averaged 2.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.2 steals in 8.5 minutes per game over 22 games and no starts to finish the regular season.[51] The2015–16 Warriors won an NBA-record 73 games to eclipse the 72 wins set by the1995–96 Chicago Bulls. They also reached the2016 NBA Finals after overcoming a 3–1 deficit in the Western Conference Finals when they defeated theOklahoma City Thunder in seven games. During the NBA Finals, the Warriors faced Varejão's former team, theCleveland Cavaliers. According to theElias Sports Bureau, Varejão became the first player in NBA history to play for both NBA Finals teams in the same season.[52] The Warriors lost to the Cavaliers in seven games despite a 3–1 lead.[53] Varejão was offered achampionship ring, but he declined as he played for the opposition.[54][55]
In July 2016, Varejão re-signed with the Warriors on a one-year deal.[56][57] On February 3, 2017, he was waived after playing in 6.6 minutes per game and averaging 1.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.2 steals in 14 games and one start.[58][59][60] The Warriors went on to win the NBA Finals in 2017, and Varejão was offered a championship ring as a result, which he accepted.[61][62]
On January 17, 2018, Varejão signed a 20-month contract withFlamengo.[63] He played the second half of the 2017–18 season and then continued on with Flamengo for the 2018–19 season.
On May 4, 2021, Varejão signed a 10-day contract to return to theCleveland Cavaliers. The team was granted a hardship exception to acquire him.[64] Ten days later, Varejão signed another 10-day contract.[65] He finished the season playing in 7.2 minutes per game and averaged 2.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in five games and no starts.[66]
Following the 2020–21 season, Varejão announced his retirement from professional basketball.[67]
On August 14, 2024, it was announced that Varejão would be inducted into theGreater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame on October 15.[68]
On January 13, 2023, the Cavaliers hired Varejão to hold the role of Player Development Consultant and Global Ambassador.[69][70]
Varejão has been a regular member of the seniorBrazilian national team since 2001, winning a gold medal in 2003 at thePan American Games and competing in everyworld cup between 2002 and 2019.[71] On August 23, 2006, he committed a controversial foul during a preliminary game of the2006 FIBA World Championship againstGreece, elbowing Greekpoint guardNikos Zisis in theface.[72]
Varejão earned the nickname"Wild Thing" because of his wild hair and energetic and relentless style of play.[73] Varejão has been criticized forflopping when trying to draw acharge. Ian Thomsen, aSports Illustrated columnist, grouped Varejão with fellow foreign playersVlade Divac andManu Ginóbili as the players who "made [flopping] famous", exaggerating contact on the court the way playersdive inassociation football games.[74] Longtime Cavaliers teammateLeBron James defended Varejão, stating: "He's taking physical charges."[75][76][77]
Varejão's older brother,Sandro, was also a professional basketball player.[78] His niece, Izabel, played college basketball for theUniversity of Michigan.[79]
Varejão has been married twice. His first marriage was to Marcelle Silva from 2013 to 2016.[80] Varejão has been married to his current wife, Stacy Bradley, since 2019. They have two children together: Serenee and Sebastio.[81]
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Golden State | 22 | 0 | 8.5 | .438 | — | .552 | 2.3 | .7 | .2 | .2 | 2.6 | |
| 2016–17 | Golden State | 14 | 1 | 6.6 | .357 | — | .727 | 1.9 | .7 | .2 | .2 | 1.3 |
| 2020–21 | Cleveland | 5 | 0 | 7.2 | .250 | .000 | .556 | 4.0 | .6 | 0 | .4 | 2.6 |
| Career | 632 | 209 | 23.9 | .509 | .023 | .630 | 7.2 | 1.2 | .8 | .6 | 7.2 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Cleveland | 13 | 0 | 18.3 | .620 | — | .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 | — | .429 | 5.2 | .7 | .6 | .1 | 4.1 |
| 2009 | Cleveland | 14 | 14 | 30.0 | .500 | — | .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 | — | .526 | 1.2 | .8 | .1 | .1 | 1.2 |
| Career | 88 | 14 | 19.2 | .488 | .000 | .618 | 4.8 | .6 | .5 | .8 | 5.0 | |
At the end of the 2020-21 season, Varejao signed a ceremonial 10-day contract, playing his final five NBA games in the wine and gold before officially announcing his retirement.
The ugly trend of faking physical contact began in football, a sport in which gamesmanship has given way to players writhing in false agony around the world. Football 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.
Links to related articles | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
