Bruno Caboclo is the latest addition to the Sacramento Kings’ roster. Today, we take a look at what he brings to the court.
Who is Bruno Caboclo? This question was undoubtedly on the minds of many Sacramento Kings‘ fans after the conclusion of the NBA trade deadline. Caboclo was acquired on Feb. 8 by Sacramento in exchange for Malachi Richardson. Many fans refer to the 22-year-old forward as the “Brazilian KD.” No one is confusing Caboclo with superstar NBA Champion Kevin Durant. The comparisons likely stem from the similarity of both players physiques as opposed to overall talent level. Caboclo stands 6’9 and features an impressive 7’6 wingspan. Despite having limited production in the NBA, Caboclo’s above average length and physical attributes are what make him such an intriguing addition to the Kings roster.
Career History
Caboclo was the 20th pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors. Caboclo previously played for the Pinheiros of the NBB (Novo Basquete Brasil), a professional basketball league in Brazil. After struggling to get significant minutes on the court, Toronto assigned Caboclo to the Raptors 905 in the G-league, where he has averaged 14.4 points a game this season. His best performance came last season against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in which Caboclo logged 31 points to help lead the Raptors 905 to their first G-league championship.
A Compelling Endorsement
It remains to be seen how the Kings plan to utilize Caboclo. Caboclo has length, physically imposing traits, and tremendous upside in his favor. The Kings are not the only ones who see an NBA player in Caboclo. Tiago Splitter echoed his support for his fellow Brazilian basketball product in a direct quote per Aileene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee,
"“Bruno is a great player. He needs a team that gives him confidence, that lets him play and has some good leaders. He’s a good shooter, has long arms, and has a feel for the game. He’s an NBA player for sure. I wish him the best.”"
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That’s quite the ringing endorsement from the first Brazilian player to win an NBA Championship. Tiago Splitter played five years for the Spurs including on the 2014 NBA Championship squad. Splitters assessment when it comes to Caboclo is encouraging when you consider Splitter knows a championship culture. Kings fans can only hope the upside Caboclo brings manifest itself into success on the court.