By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After expanding his career to the NBA and Europe, Raul Neto returned to Brazil.
Neto, 32, signed a contract with Pinheiros, the team announced on Tuesday.
Due to an injury in his right knee, picked up during the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the experienced point guard spent the entire 2023-24 campaign on the injury list of Fenerbahce Beko.
“I am in the final stages of my recovery,” he said on his return to action, “Pinheiros is a club with a great structure and will help me. I am happy to be here.”
The team coached by Vitor Galvani currently carries a 1-1 record in the Regular Season of the 2024-25 edition of Brazil’s NBB.
In 2013, Neto was selected with the 47th overall pick of the NBA draft. Two years later, he moved his talents to the best league in the world and logged 466 appearances between the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Philadelphia 76ers until 2023.
After leaving the top-flight division of his home country in 2011, he spent the next four years in Spain, playing for UCAM Murcia and Lagun Aro GBC.
Thirteen years after his last NBB appearance, the native of Sao Paulo hopes to get his career back on track with Pinheiros.
“I want to help the team and share as much as possible with the younger players. I decided to come to this team and get in the best shape possible, to help in the NBB, where I am practically a rookie. Then, I will think about my future,” Neto set his plan.