One of the more undervalued defensive bigs during his time in the NBA, center Anderson Varejao is now eyeing another chance to re-enter the league after last playing for the Golden State Warriors during the 2016-17 season.
Now 36 years old, Varejao still has motivation to get back into the NBA even after years away. Varejao has been playing in Brazil since stepping away from the NBA but recently told Athletic’s Joe Vardon that he would welcome an NBA return.
“I was back in Brazil, and I was having fun there, but during the offseason, I’m always back in Cleveland,” he corrected me on Saturday after his Brazilian national team was clobbered by the Czech Republic at the FIBA World Cup.
Something else I assumed about Varejao: His NBA career is over after 13 seasons, mostly with the Cavs and then parts of two years with the Warriors.
We’ll see about that, but Varejao, 36, said his contract is up and he’s wondering what’s next.
“I am focused on the World Cup and trying to do my best with Brazil and trying to help Brazil accomplish something big, but it wouldn’t be bad to come back to Cleveland,” Varejao said, smiling.
Anderson Varejao enjoyed a 14-year NBA career with most of his years coming as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, Varejao would also spend his final two seasons with the Golden State Warriors.
“I miss all the good years in Cleveland, the teammates I had during the 13 years I had in the NBA,” Varejao said. “The fans, the country in general. I miss America. I miss being away when I’m in Brazil. I do miss the game as well, but I miss the good times that I had with Cleveland and also with the Warriors.”
Though Varejao hasn’t been in the NBA for years now, it isn’t impossible to envision him back in the league. The big man has stayed in shape thanks to his career in Brazil and his game was never predicated off his athleticism anyways.
Instead, Varejao served as an interior presence thanks to his tough defense and rebounding ability. Even at his current age, he could provide a team with a capable and experience big body off the bench if nothing else. Varejao currently has NBA career averages of 7.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
