Bruno Caboclo

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Raptors Post-Game: Bruno Caboclo - October 7, 2014

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Related: Raptors Weekly Roundup | Tracking DeRozan Since Day 1 | USAB Team Talks DeRozan

The first offseason of Bruno Caboclo’s professional career has been a busy one. Back in Toronto after stints in Vancouver and Las Vegas for workouts and basketball camps, Caboclo is serving as a guest counselor at the Americas Team Camp being held at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Center.

Hosting the best young basketball players from Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada, the camp counted Caboclo as a participant only a year ago. The rookie isn’t the only representative present from the Raptors organization. Assistant coach Jama Mahlalela and development consultant/community ambassador Jamaal Magloire were also on hand serving as coaches.

In addition to delivering a morning coaching session to the many coaches on hand to learn from the camp, Mahlalela put Caboclo through a workout that had younger campers gathering around the court to watch. Referring to the success first-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan found in his fifth NBA season, Mahlalela credited the work ethic he has had since the first day he showed up in Toronto.

“Seeing DeMar, working with him for so many years and now he’s an All-Star it’s like you’re a part of that,” Mahlalela said. “It’s such an amazing thing, to see a kid, as they come in as a kid and they grow up into a responsible young man, basketball player.”

Two months into working with Caboclo, Mahlalela see s the same dedication to getting better.

“Oh it’s exceptional,” he said. “This next season is going to be great because his learning curve is going to go up, it’s great. Every day this summer he’s gotten better. Pre-season and [regular] season, he’s going to get better every single day. He’s a sponge. He loves basketball. I can’t get him off the basketball court, which is good, such an amazing quality to have. He loves to work. It’s perfect.”

After Las Vegas Summer League, Caboclo headed to Vancouver to work out with Raptors training staff members, Lucas Nogueira and DeAndre Daniels. In between Vancouver and Toronto he headed back to Vegas to attend Tim Grgurich’s camp. Since being drafted in June, his English has improved and he is starting to become comfortable speaking with media. Saying the language barrier is what makes it difficult, Caboclo said he loves Toronto and wants fans to know he is very excited to be here and is a happy person who is also a little shy.

While Caboclo’s potential is exciting for all of the coaching staff, what sticks out to Mahlalela is the character he has seen from the 18-year-old.

“He’s an exceptional human being,” Mahlalela said. “Forget basketball player. To go through what he’s gone through, moving where he lived in Brazil to suddenly come to North America, be here this entire summer, Vancouver, New York, [Houston], Las Vegas, Rookie Transition Program, Tim Grgurich’s camp, [meet] all of our staff, media interviews, to be able to transition that and have a good calm head on his shoulders and smile his way through tells me he’s an amazing person.”

Caboclo could only smile as his coach praised him. He said he is focusing on trying to get stronger and that he’s eating 6,000 calories per day with lots of pasta included in his diet. Still waiting for the chance to get to spend some down time in Toronto after a whirlwind summer, the rookie is looking forward to learning more about his new city.

While Caboclo is already dreaming of one day winning a championship with the Raptors, his goal for this season is a simple one: “Help the team win.”

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Caboclo's Busy First Offseason Nears An End

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TORONTO, August 13, 2014 – The NBA will host 60 of the best youth basketball players from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico at the Americas Team Camp Presented by NIKE in Toronto Aug. 17-20 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.  

The camp, which includes four days of intense basketball drills and competition directed by NBA players and coaches, will include Brazil native and Toronto Raptors forward Bruno Caboclo, appearances by Canadian NBA players, and Jay Triano, head coach of the Canada Men’s National Team and an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers.  Canada Basketball, the governing body for basketball in Canada, will use the camp as a coaching workshop for Canadian coaches countrywide. 

Also participating in the camp are NBA assistant coaches Kenny Atkinson of the Atlanta Hawks, Chris Finch of the Houston Rockets, Brett Gunning of the Orlando Magic, Eric Hughes of the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as Canadian citizen and Swaziland native Jama Mahlalela of the Toronto Raptors.  Gersson Rosas of the Houston Rockets will act as camp director.  Coaches from each country will also attend the camp and learn alongside NBA coaches. 

Selected by the NBA, NIKE, and participating basketball federations, Americas Team Camp Presented by NIKE participants are the top players in their countries up to age 17.

“The Americas Team Camp presented by NIKE is one of the NBA’s most effective programs for growing basketball in the Americas,” said Dan MacKenzie, Vice President and General Manager, NBA Canada.  “As basketball’s popularity continues to rise in Canada, we’re thrilled to work with NIKE to serve as the camp’s host country and further develop these great young players.” 

“Canada Basketball is excited to have the Americas Team Camp presented by NIKE here this summer,” said Michele O’Keefe, Executive Director, Canada Basketball.  “This is a great opportunity to show our friends from our fellow FIBA Americas countries what Canada is like, while showcasing some of our top young athletes, coaches and NBA talent.” 

The four-day camp will consist of morning clinics that teach basketball fundamentals and life skills, with competitive games scheduled for the afternoons and evenings.  The camp will conclude with a 5-on-5 championship game and an All-Star Game on the last day. 

2014 is the third year of the Americas Team Camp.  The NBA has previously held camps in Brazil in 2010 and Puerto Rico in 2012.

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NBA To Host Top Youth Basketball Talent For Americas Team Camp Presented By Nike In Toronto

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Bruno Caboclo At 2014 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot

Raptors Summer League: Devlin & Akil - July 16, 2014

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Raptors Highlights: Caboclo Floater - July 16, 2014

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After a rough Monday loss, Bruno Caboclo and the Toronto Raptors were back to business on Tuesday morning. Practicing at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas, Jesse Mermuys prepped his team for the tournament-style portion of summer league.

Caboclo was thankful to be back on the court and get work in with his teammates. After practice concluded, the rookie worked with Raptors head coach Dwane Casey on drills for the better part of a half hour, eager to continue getting better.

“He’s good,” Lucas Nogueira said. “He’s not mad and sad [anymore] because it’s just a dunk. I think he said he’s madder because he lost by 30. Nobody wants to lose by 30 because we have a great team, everybody plays professional. We didn’t need to lose by 30…he’s not just mad at the dunk. He’s mad at all of the things in the game. He’s better today. He had a good practice. Yesterday we had a conversation so he changed his mind and keep focused on this game.”

More From MacKenzie: Caboclo's Hard-Won Experience | Nogueira On New NBA Opportunity

Casey also spoke with media after the practice session and praised the intensity and energy shown from Nogueira. Stressing the need to be patient with young players on the roster, he pointed to the experience Nogueira has thanks to seven years of professional basketball under his belt despite being just 21 years-old.

“He’s seen a lot,” Casey said. “He’s ahead in life skills, communication. With him, he’s just got to pay attention to detail, stay serious about his work and keep his nose to the grind and Lucas is going to be okay.”

Once again holding court with reporters well after his required media duties, Nogueira emphasized Toronto’s need to play defence in the days to come if they’d like to advance in the tournament. Still getting familiar with his coaching staff and teammates, Nogueira is looking forward to his game conditioning improving as the days and weeks go on.

Explaining that the nickname “Bebe” has been with him since he was a kid growing up in Brazil, Nogueira wore a smile as he spoke about his family. Pressed on where his positive outlook comes from, he again mentioned his family’s impact on his life.

“Because I think my life is blessed,” Nogueira said. “I have a great family. They adopted me. In the NBA, they only have 450 jobs for seven billion persons. I have a job. I don't have any reasons to stay sad. I have bad moments in my life. Everybody has bad moments so I think, ‘Okay I can be sad sometimes,’ but 95 percent I want to be happy because I feel blessed. A good family adopted me, given me support all my life. I’ve played just seven years of basketball and I'm in the NBA right now so I don't have a reason to stay sad.”

While he has only been with the Raptors for a couple of weeks, Nogueira’s personality has already won over his teammates. Upset when he initially found out he had been traded by the Atlanta Hawks, Nogueira already feels comfortable with a Toronto team that he knows wanted his services. Most of all he is pleased to be in a situation where the coaching staff and front office believe in his talents.

There is still a lot of work for Nogueira to do before training camp rolls around.

“He’s going to have to come in and compete in training camp,” Casey said. “Work the rest of the summer. I don't see any reason why he couldn’t [be on the roster next season]. It just depends on how much stronger he gets before October, which he’s got a long period of time to do it. Pick up staying low…You can’t teach his wingspan, neither of their [Nogueira and Caboclo’s] wingspans.”

For the rest of the summer, Casey wants Nogueira focused on getting stronger so he isn’t able to be bumped out of position under the basket. In the meantime, he also wants him to continue to enjoy the process.

“Keep growing,” Casey said. “Keep that smile. Keep that youthful enthusiasm.” 