Anderson Varejao last played in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors during the 2016-17 season. At 36 years old, Varejao is looking at a potential return to the league. Varejao, who competed for Brazil in the FIBA World Cup, recently spoke with The Athletic‘s Joe Vardon.
Per Vardon, Varejao is looking to possibly be “an end-of-bench guy who can mentor younger players.”
The Warriors waived Varejao in February 2017. Now, he plays for Flamengo, a Brazilian team in Rio de Janeiro, where last season he averaged 10.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in 44 contests.
Though Team USA defeated Brazil on Monday, Varejao played well. He got the buckets he wanted inside and scored 14 points on 70% shooting from the field.
Varejao struggled with injuries during his NBA career, but told Vardon he feels better compared to his last few NBA seasons:
I feel a lot better, 100 percent better than how it felt back then, because I got to play again. I got to play, and I got to be on the floor for more minutes and all of that. I’ve got more rhythm, and that’s why I am feeling the way I’m feeling right now.
Varejao, who played 14 seasons in the NBA and his best years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, noted that his Flamengo club enjoyed great success the past two seasons, including a midseason championship in the Brazilian league.
The big man benefited from playing with LeBron James during James’ first stint with the Cavaliers. He was a prime pick-and-roll option for James, and he played with energy on defense. In 12 seasons with Cleveland, Varejao averaged 7.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
In his two seasons with the Warriors, Varejao played in 36 games and averaged 2.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
