Barça basketball made the signing of Raul Neto official this Monday. The 32-year-old Brazilian point guard has signed until the end of the season and joins to reinforce Joan Peñarroya’s team after the long-term absence of Nico Laprovittola. ‘Raulzinho’ arrives from Esporte Clube Pinheiros in his country, where he has recorded an average of 16.8 points, five assists, 17.8 efficiency and 20 minutes of play in five games.
In addition, the Blaugrana player has extensive experience in the NBA. He played eight seasons in the American championship (2015-2023), reaching 435 games with different teams: Utah Jazz, Philadelphia Sixers, Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers. He closed his time in the NBA with an average of 5.7 points per game and 2.1 assists in 15 minutes of play.
On the other hand, Raul Neto had also made his debut in the ACB, since before his time in the United States he was at Guipuzcoa Basket (2011-2014) and at UCAM Murcia (2014-2015). In those four seasons, he played 132 games in the Spanish league.
Four years in the ACB
‘Raulzinho’ was part of the ranks of Guipuzcoa Basket and UCAM Murcia
However, ‘Raulzinho’ will be able to make his debut in the Euroleague. He was close to achieving it last season, when his signing for Fenerbahce was announced in the summer of 2023. A serious knee injury – in the right patellar tendon – prevented him from doing so, a mishap he suffered during the World Cup with the Brazilian team and which It kept him off the track for a year. He was able to participate in the Paris Olympic Games and chose to sign for a modest team in Brazil to regain his sensations.
In statements to Barça Onethe Brazilian has pointed out that he is in his “best moment in the last two years”: “I have fully recovered from my knee and I have regained my rhythm. I feel very good and I think about the effort and all the hard moments I have experienced over the last year to reach one of the best teams in Europe like Barça. “I want to compete and win titles.”
Thus, Neto already sees himself prepared for the challenge: “I come with great enthusiasm and desire. I have already spoken with a couple of players, I have watched the games and I am ready to play and help the team as much as possible.”
With his incorporation, he becomes the fifth Brazilian player to come through the Barça ranks. His name joins those of Anderson Varejao (2001-2004), Marcelinho Huertas (2011-2015), Wesley Sena (2016-2017) and Vitor Faverani (2017).
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