BRA – Splitter’s journey

SAN ANTONIO (FIBA Americas Championship) - Tiago Splitter is cutting his teeth in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs.

Other than spending time out with injuries, the Brazil national team center has had a positive rookie year.

He’s been on the same team as Tim Duncan, a player that he admired while growing up.

Just around the corner will be Splitter’s first taste of the NBA post-season.

He is 11 years removed from the time he made a very important decision in his life. He remembers that time well.

"I went to Spain at 15 years old,” Splitter said to FIBA.com. “I was really young and had a really tough start because my family and everyone else stayed in Brazil.

"I started to play, practice every day and just thinking about basketball every day.

"I remember my father saying, 'You've got the decision to do whatever you want.' So I say, 'Okay. I want to go to Europe.'

“And he started to cry, but also said, ‘Do what you want to do.’ It was tough."

The rest is well documented.

Splitter moved to Europe, competed alongside terrific players like Argentina’s Luis Scola and Brazil teammate Marcelo Huertas at Baskonia (Caja Laboral), and learned from coaches Dusko Ivanovic and Neven Spahija.

He developed into the best player in Spain.

Last year, Splitter led his team to the ACB title and decided it was time to leave for San Antonio.

In his entire basketball life, Splitter has been a player for Brazil.

The national team means everything to him, which is why come rain or shine, FIBA Americas Championship or FIBA World Championship, he’ll be with the team, leading from the front.

It’s with Brazil that he has developed so many close relationships over the years.

"We all start young in the national team,” Splitter explained.  “I've known Anderson (Varejao), Leandro (Barbosa) since I was 16, 17 years old.

"We know everything about each other.”

They grew close off the court, and on.

Last year, that chemistry under the guidance of Ruben Magnano almost translated into an upset of the United States at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey but instead, Brazil lost at the death and then suffered heartbreak in a Sixteenth-Finals defeat to Argentina.

This is a Brazil team that is a force and make no mistake, come this summer in Mar del Plata, Splitter and Co will not be going to the FIBA Americas Championship just to reach the Final to qualify for the London Olympics.

They’ll be going to win it, just as they did in Puerto Rico in 2009. Knowing his teammates so well and being on the same page, it all helps.

“We started to grow, grow and grow and now we're here,” Splitter said. “We're at a good age 25, 26 years old.

“Maybe Marcelinho (Marcelo Machado) is a little bit older but he likes to do the same things as us. We're like a real family.”

Splitter has had the luxury of learning different styles of basketball.

There are notable differences when one watches teams play from Brazil and those from Europe.

"We play a different kind of basketball in the Americas,” he said.

“Here (in America) the game is a little more explosive with a lot of fast-breaks.

"In Europe, I played there a lot of years and over there it's more five-on-five, a little more different.

"I think the best way to play is mixed, both ways.”

And the players that he’s admired for many years who also wear the Brazil shirt?

One name comes to mind immediately: Marcelo Machado.

"He's big time in Brazil, the best scorer and best passer,” Splitter said.

“He comes to the national team and doesn't have the same role but he does it well.

“He's an exciting player. He can shoot three-pointers, pass it.

“He's a veteran, the captain and is great for the group.

“I have told him so many times that I'm a fan of his because of everything he has done.”

FIBA