Basketball

FLABASQUETE FORWARD IS SELECTED FOR THE NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

Red and black athlete will compete in the G League

Didi Louzada, Flamengo winger, will play in the next season of the G League, the NBA's development league. The young man was selected by the Valley Suns, Phoenix Suns' team in the competition, in the expansion draft. In total, the team called 14 names to make up the cast. The information is from the “Jumper Brasil” portal.

This way, the player must return to the competition. In 2023, he played for the Cleveland Charge, where he averaged 9.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in eight games. It was precisely the short minutes that made him decide to return to Flamengo.

For the Rio team, he assumed the status of one of the most important players for coach Gustavo Conti. Louzada participated in the team that finished runners-up in the NBB (Novo Basquete Brasil) and the BCLA Champions League of the Americas.

Now, Didi Louzada has a new opportunity to play in North American basketball and everything depends solely on her. This is because the player has the condition to accept or not to go to the Suns. It is worth noting that the contract with Fla remains in force. At the moment, the winger is with the Brazilian team, where he will compete in the Pre-Olympics in Riga, in July.

Coach Aleksandar Petrovic's team will play friendlies on the 24th, against Poland, on the 26th. , against Slovenia and, finally, on the 28th, against Croatia. The competition starts on July 2nd and Brazil will have Cameroon and Montenegro in the group stage. It is worth remembering that only the champion guarantees a place at the Paris Games.

Basketball

Marcelinho and Olivinha remember Flamengo's historic match against an NBA team

Basketball idols from Mengão reported the experience of being the first Brazilian team to play in the United States against a team from the local league

Marcelinho and Olivinha remember the match against an NBA team - Photo: JOÃO PIRES/LNB

Flamengo experienced a historic moment when facing the Phoenix Suns (USA) on October 8, 2014. To remember this remarkable date, the idols of the red-and-black club, Marcelinho Machado and Olivinha, visited the NBA Store, in São Paulo, to comment on the confrontation. On that occasion, Flamengo became the first Brazilian team to participate in a pre-season in the national league basketballfrom the United States.

“Until then, we had only seen European teams playing in the pre-season. Being able to play those games wearing a Flamengo shirt was not only an achievement, but also a dream come true. When I returned, in an interview I said that I would like all teams in the country to have the chance to live that experience. It was very rewarding. For a few days we experienced a feeling of belonging to the NBA universe”, highlighted Marcelinho.

“Playing against NBA teams was like a dream. A dream that we couldn't even imagine because it was something very distant. I had the opportunity to be in that game against the Suns and in a few more games against NBA teams. Every player should have the chance to live that experience. It's 10 years since a game that left a lasting impression on me and it's great to be here today remembering the importance of that match for our basketball”, recalled Olivinha.

THE GAME

Flamengoand Phoenix Suns faced each other in an NBA pre-season friendly . The North Americans' highlight was Isaiah Thomas, who scored 18 points. On the red and black side, Marcelinho Machado also had a good performance, scoring 16 points and standing out in the match.

Despite having started the game ahead, with a favorable first period of 26 to 21, Flamengo was unable to maintain the advantage. The Suns reacted and won the duel 100 to 88, at the US Airways Center, located in Arizona, United States.

Basketball

The Cria is back! Ruan Miranda signs with FlaBasquete for the 24/25 season

The 23-year-old, 2.07-year-old pivot was elected MVP of the Development League and Young Highlight of the NBB

Ruan Miranda will wear the Sacred Mantle again, Nation! The 23-year-old pivot, born in São Luís, Maranhão, is a Cria da Gávea, having played for Mais Querido between 2017 and 2021.

Wearing red and black, Ruan was part of the squads that won two NBBs, two Super 8s and a Champions League Americas at the turn of the last decade. In search of more opportunities, the young man left Flamengo at the age of 20, at the end of the 2021 season. In the following years, Ruan had spells at Cerrado and Paulistano, being elected MVP of the NBB's Young Development and Highlight League - in addition to participation in the Jogo das Estrelas and having been champion of the Global Jam with the Brazilian team.

Highlight this which earned the pivot a place in the NBA G-League, with Capitanes, in Mexico and - after the end of the preparatory competition for the biggest league in the world - with Venados de Mazatlan, in the Mexican League.

Back at Mais Querido, Ruan was very motivated.

“The feeling of returning to Flamengo is very euphoric, I am very happy to be back in the nest, as it is the place where I grew as a person and as a professional. I made great bonds of friendship, built a second family and this is very special for me. Now, with my return, I come back more experienced, with a great desire to add to the team in search of titles, I want to add and make this Nation proud! The fans can be sure that there will be no lack of energy, drive, commitment, for me that is what being Flamengo is all about!” said the pivot.

Ruan Miranda joins Franco Balbi, Alexey Borges, Shaq Johnson, Gui Deodato, Jordan Williams, Jhonatan Luz, Kayo Gonçalves, Lucas Siewert, Taya Gallizzi and Ítalo Honorato, as well as the boys Matheus Gueiros, Isaque Duarte and Yan Marun, as the names confirmed for the FlaBasquete squad on 24/25.