With players like Marcelo “Marcelinho” Huertas, who has played in the Olympics twice and in the FIBA World Cup 4 times, Brazil has the veteran experience. In addition to that, he’s played alongside the great Kobe Bryant back in his days with the Lakers! Reaching the knockout stage of the 2024 Paris Olympics and thrashing Japan; yes, that’s Brazil’s hoopers for you. They’ve undeniably turned heads ahead of their quarterfinal game against Team USA. After a shaky performance in the first two group-stage games, everyone wrote Brazil off, but fate had other plans for them. With just 3 wins away from snatching gold, let’s find out more about Brazil’s 6’3 guard.

Marcelinho Huertas’ early life and career

Even though Huertas was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, he completed his high school education at Coppell in Texas. Huertas was hooked on basketball from a young age and was part of his high school hoopers team. Since the dawn of his professional career in 2001, the Brazilian has spent most of his career in Europe. After going undrafted in the 2005 NBA draft, Huertas didn’t return to the USA until 2015.

He played for teams in different leagues, in the Italian, Spanish, and Brazilian leagues, some of his most notable moves being to Fortitudo Bologna and Regal FC Barcelona before he got the call from the NBA finally, even though it was a bit late.

Marcelinho Huertas’ NBA career and experience with Kobe Bryant

In 2015, the Los Angeles Lakers welcomed Huertas as an NBA rookie at 32! It made him the 2nd-oldest rookie after Pablo Prigioni made his debut at 35 with the Knicks in 2021. Coming from Europe, where his game was respected, and moving to the United States where his playing time was seriously shortened, a reporter asked him if it was worth it.

He said, “It was worth it, no doubt. The experience was incredible. I learned a lot.”

“In the first year was very complicated because it was a team in rebuilding, farewell to Kobe Bryant, parties, the team had no goal, focus,” Huertas added. “Kobe wasn’t playing well anymore, could not take the team in the back, youngsters who needed to have the protagonism great could not take over. Although the preseason was good, I ended up being out of rotation and it took me a while to get back. In the end of season I played well, where I showed my game.”

Even though Marcelino Huertas wasn’t a regular feature in the Lakers’ rotations, his playing time on the team drastically decreased, despite averaging 4.5 points in his first season. However, he assured the reporter that he did not regret it. After his run with the Lakers, he was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2016 in exchange for Tyler Ennis. However, he was waived by his new team and thus, his NBA career came to a halt. Subsequently, Huertas returned to Spain.

Marcelinho Huertas enters an All-time Top 10 list in the Olympics!

Marcelino Huertas has no shortage of experience on the international stage. He was a key player in Brazil’s win over Japan in the 2024 Olympics with 13 points and 8 assists, ranking him 10th in the All-time assists in the Olympics with a total of 84!

The Olympic veteran, also a model professional, had nothing but praise for Japan following their blowout 102-84 win. “We had a good lead for a certain amount of times during the game, but they always managed to come back. [Japan is] a team with an unbelievable threat in the three-point line, and guys played with high confidence. Their point guard and big had an amazing tournament,” Huertas said. The guard also praised his team’s composure, which ultimately played a role in Brazil’s journey to the knockouts.

However, even though they’ve beaten Japan, they don’t have time to relax, as they are going up against by far the best team in the competition. The underdogs will have to bring their A-game in the next do-or-die game against Team USA.

Will Marcelinho Huertas and Brazil surprise the world and win their first game (9 losses) against LeBron James and Co. in the Olympics at the most crucial juncture? Let us know your predictions below!

And before you go, do check out this latest video featuring BG12 x Silas Demary Jr.