Neven Spahija called Bruno Caboclo's actions childish, likened him to Jose Mourinho, and said it was the main reason he's not currently in the NBA.
Neven Spahija was supposed to be the head coach of Bruno Caboclo at Umana Reyer Venezia in the EuroCup last season. However, Caboclo ended up playing for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. Now, he's in Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv.
Bruno Caboclo
| Team: |
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv |
| Position: | C |
| Age: | 28 |
| Height: | 206 cm |
| Weight: | 99 kg |
| Birth place: | Brazil |
Caboclo's departure from Venezia was highly publicized, with both sides taking aim at each other. The club even threatened to go to court, but ultimately, the Brazilian big man landed in Serbia.
A year later, Caboclo left Partizan's organization prematurely in the middle of the Serbian League (KLS) playoffs. The club imposed a heavy fine and had to part ways with the player. Caboclo will continue his career in Israel, stepping down to the EuroCup from the EuroLeague.
"He's special. Football has [Jose] Mourinho, we have Caboclo," Spahija said about the player in an interview with Tanja Culafic from Sportal.
"What can I say? I'm personally good with Bruno. I took Bruno's decision personally since we worked together in Memphis," the veteran coach said. "When he came to Memphis, I helped him come live with me on the same block, in the same building. We were very close, and somehow, my acquaintance with him helped him sign for Venice."
Despite having come to rest about his decision to leave Venezia and thinking highly of him as a player, Spahija didn't hold back on Caboclo's behavior off the court.
"I think he's an extra-class player, I think he's an NBA player, but he's not actually in the NBA because of these, I'd say, occurrences. I don't think he's a bad man. Simply, those are children's diseases, I'd call it that. I don't know how anyone can allow themselves to do something like that at this level," Spahija said.
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