By Antonis Stroggylakis/ [email protected]
Jakarta, Indonesia – Raul Neto and the Brazilian national team had just completed one of their final practices ahead of their 2023 FIBA World Cup debut against Iran Saturday (26/8). For Neto, this is his first appearnce in his country’s colors after seven years and the 2016 Olympics.
“I’m excited. I haven’t played for the national team for a while, so I’m happy to be back,” Neto told Eurohoops. “I’m particularly excited about the group we have.”
Neto’s comeback with Brazil takes place during a very interesting summer for him and his career. After spending eight years in the NBA with four different teams (Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards and the Cleveland Cavaliers), the 31-year-old guard is returning to Europe with Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce Beko to make his first-time EuroLeague trip.
Why now?
“I had two years with the Washington Wizards when I was playing a lot of minutes. I was hoping to get a multiyear deal. That didn’t happen,” Neto said, recalling when a moment he became a bit bewildered with the NBA. In his debut year in Washington in 2020-21, he averaged 8.7 points and 2.4 rebounds, spending 21.9 minutes on the floor – by far the most in his NBA run.
Neto re-signed that summer but next year he was a free agent once again since he didn’t get the contract he expected from Washington. He joined the Cleveland Cavaliers on a veteran’s minimum deal.
“I just think that the NBA season… it’s very hard if you aren’t a role player,” Neto commented. “It’s hard on you. You don’t play much.”
While Neto provided the Cavaliers with positive minutes, especially when Ricky Rubio was absent due to his injury, he ultimately averaged a mere 10.6 minutes. When the summer arrived, he took the decision to make to return across the pond and sign with Fenerbahce.
“I’m at an age that I still have a lot of basketball in me and I think it’s the right time to go and play and compete with Fenerbahce Beko, one of the biggest teams in Europe,” Neto said. “I’m very happy with my decision.”
Neto was signed to essentially replaced former All-EuroLeague guard Nick Calathes. That means that he will assume leading playmaking duties and take the mantle of conductor of the team’s offense. It’s a far more significant role than the ones he ever had in the NBA.
The opportunity to be one of the “main players,” as he specifically mentioned,” was one that Neto couldn’t couldn’t turn his back on. “That’s the challenge,” he said.
Neto has already realized that his resume isn’t an automatic guarantee of retaining a a leadership position and getting fat minutes on the court. He knows that every game and every practice are an ongoing test and that he will have to prove again and again that he deserves to be a main floor general on an ambitious team that looks to win titles.
Fenerbahce, the most popular club in Turkey, comes off a season that ended with zero trophies and an elimination to Olympiacos Piraeus in the EuroLeague playoffs.
“I know that I still have to peform,” Neto said. “Just because I played in the NBA or because who I am, I’m not going to get there and just have minutes handed to me. That was one of the conversations I had with coach Dimitris Itoudis. I know that I have to go there and perform. It’s a great challenge and opportunity for me.”
What Neto has already received is the blessing of the Fenerbahce loyal crowd. He’s been showered with messages from fans who have shown him their support and ask him to get the team back on track to successes.
“Even before I signed I had a lot of messages,” Neto said. “A lot of love and a lot of passion coming from them. Which I think is going to be exciting. There’s the pressure of course, but also there’s a lot of passion and love for Fenerbahce among Turkish people.”
There’s only one way to reciprocate this kind of love he’s already receiving by the Fenerbahce faithful. By putting on the maximum effort every time he steps on the court.
This is a common thread that connects European fans, especially ones from the Balkans and the Meditarenean. Of course they will adore the player who will get their favorite team trophies and titles. But first and foremost, they want to see , hustle, grit, laying it on the floor. They will appreciate and cheer for those, even if they don’t necessarily bring results.
Neto is fully aware of it.
“Just playing hard,” he said. “I feel like representing the team as best as you can. I feel like that’s something I have naturally in me. Wherever I am, I always give 100 percent. Basketball is basketball. Things are going to happen. You are going to lose games. You aren’t going to play well in some games. But I feel that if I give 100 percent every time I’m on the court, that’s all I can do to reciprocate the love from the crowd.”
By the end of the next season, Neto will be 32 years old. He’s already got a taste of what the NBA business . Does his return to Europe at this moment in his career mean that he’s done with the NBA?
“I don’t want to close doors anywhere,” Neto admitted. “I feel that I still have a lot of basketball in me. Of course I’m going to focus on Fenerbahce. I’m going to focus on where I am right now, that’s what I always do. But I don’t want to close doors. If there’s an opportunity and I feel it’s right for me and right for my family I’ll consider it. But right now I’m happy where I am and I’m excited to play for Fenerbahce.”
