Novo Basquete Brasil

Format

The NBB is the annual championship promoted by the national Brazilian league (LNB), and endorsed by the Brazilian Basketball Confederation. The first phase of the season consists of fifteen teams playing against each other, on a home and away basis. Then the top eight teams go to the playoffs, where the top ranked team plays against the one in the eighth place, the second from the top plays the seventh, and so on. Each playoff series is a best-of-five, apart from the championship final, which is a single game. In all of those, the best placed team has the home court advantage. Finally, the best placed teams in the league qualify to the FIBA Americas League and the Liga Sudamericana.

2009

The NBB inaugural season didn't have the participation of founding-members Iguaçu, Londrina, Ulbra/Rio Claro, and Uberlândia.

2009–10

For the second NBB edition, the LNB confirmed the participation of 14 teams. Limeira and Bira-Lajeado could not keep their squads, thus did not join the season. On the other hand, Londrina joined the League, while an Araraquara/Palmeiras deal brought back to the national competition one of the most traditional Brazilian clubs.

2010–11

The 15 teams from the previous season confirmed their participation. The third NBB edition also featured former national and South American champions Uberlândia, who managed to gather a strong squad sponsored by Brasília's former partner, Universo. After a one-year hiatus, Limeira returned to the League. Besides that, first-timers Rio Claro and Iguaçu joined as well.

2012–13

For the first time, the NBB had eighteen participating teams, a record in the NBB's history. The three-time champion Brasília, came once again as the title favorite. But their greatest rival Flamengo, assembled a team to break this hegemony, and thus win the NBB after four years. Uberlândia emerged as one of the favorites for the title, as well as São José. The rookies were the teams of Suzano, Mogi das Cruzes, Palmeiras, and Basquete Cearense. Of the four, the only team to qualify for the playoffs was Basquete Cearense. The last two were Tijuca and Suzano. Suzano, due to financial difficulties, dismounted their team to the championship final, while Tijuca played a small promotion tournament with Fluminense and Macaé, respectively champion and runner-up of Supercopa Brasil de Basquete. In the playoffs, a surprise: the champions of the past three editions were eliminated in the quarterfinals by São José. In the semifinals, Flamengo eliminated São José 3–2, and Uberlândia swept Bauru by 3–0. The final, played in one game in Rio de Janeiro, was won by the super-team of Flamengo, who after four years, won their second title of the NBB.

NBB rivalries

When Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB), the Brazilian basketball league, was created through the combination of top basketball teams in the country, there were some rivalries that came from the times of old Campeonato Brasileiro de Basquete. Many teams had already faced in decisive phases of playoffs and some players who played for rival teams began to be harassed by fans, for example, the guard Nezinho dos Santos was player of the extinct COC/Ribeirão Preto, that was a great rival of Franca. When he moved to Limeira and after to Brasília He continued to be pursued by the fans. After the creation of NBB and the organization of Brazilian basketball, these rivalries have intensified.

Flamengo vs. Brasília

The rivalry between Flamengo and Brasília is considered the greatest one in Brazilian basketball today. It started in 2008, when the teams disputed the final of Campeonato Brasileiro de Basquete. Brasília defended the title, because won the previous season. But Flamengo won the series by 3-0 and its first national title.

In the first NBB's edition, Flamengo finished the regular season in the first place while Brasília finished in the second place. And they met again in the final. Flamengo, led by the forward Marcelinho Machado and the center Rafael "Baby" Araújo, won the team led by the guards Alex Garcia and Valtinho for the second time. In game 5 there was a lot of confusion among players of both teams, which led to the exclusion of Baby and Márcio Cipriano in the first two minutes of play.

In the 2009–10 NBB season, two more decisions: Liga Sudamericana and Novo Basquete Brasil, both won by Brasília. In game 3 of NBB's final series, more confusion, this time involving the fans of Brasilia, who stormed the court and tried attacking players of Flamengo. This episode has made the last game of the series was played in Anápolis, and not in Brasilia. Brasília won by only two points.

On December 13, 2012, both teams realized the thousandth game of history in NBB, for the 2012–13 NBB season, in Rio de Janeiro, and Flamengo won the game by 102-88, in a game filled with confusion, with several technical fouls and eliminated players. This same game, the guards of Brasília Alex Garcia and Nezinho dos Santos, and the headcoach José Carlos Vidal, were excluded of the match.

On February 8, 2013, Flamengo and Brasília met each other for the first game of the group B in FIBA Americas League, in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. In this match, Flamengo didn't play well and Brasília took to administer the game from start to finish, winning by 91-79. Between the third quarter and the fourth quarter the power went out in the city, and the game had to be completed without the normal conditions.

On November 9, 2013, the two greatest Brazilian rivals faced each other in the 2013–14 NBB season opening, in HSBC Arena, Rio de Janeiro. The week of the game was marked by much expectation, as this was the first game of the new headcoach of Brasilia, the Argentine Sergio Hernández, and the new players of Federal District team: the Uruguayan guard Martín Osimani and the American center Marcus Goree. The team commanded by the headcoach José Neto played without its two main players: Marquinhos and Marcelo Machado, beyond the American center Jerome Meyinsse. But the Argentine guard Nicolás Laprovíttola took responsibility and, beside Olivinha and Vítor Benite, then took the national champion to victory in League debut. Laprovíttola made 22 points e 5 assists, Olivinha made 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Benite made 16 points, and Flamengo won by 84-82. On January 25, 2014, for the second game in the regular season, realized in Ginásio Nilson Nelson, Brasília, Flamengo had the back Marquinhos and Marcelinho, but another spectacular game of Laprovíttola, who scored 33 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, Flamengo won by 81-79, ending a fast four and a half years without winning in Brasilia, and breaking even the number of wins for each team in the history of the NBB.

On December 16, 2014, the teams met each other in the first game of the 2014–15 NBB season, which was played in Rio de Janeiro. Flamengo dominated the whole game, but after a came-back from Brasilia, led by the former Flamengo's guard Fred Santos, the game was tied in the last seconds. The headcoach Vidal, from Brasilia, called a timeout when it was missing 6 seconds for end of the game. At the turn of timeout, the guard Fúlvio de Assis, former São José, turned the ball over, and Flamengo's Benite stole it and ran for the fastbreak to make a game-winner layup missing just 1.2 second on the clock. Flamengo won by 76-74 and took the advantage of victories for the first time since 2009 season.

The historic balance between the two teams can be perceived by the tie of 22 wins of Flamengo against 19 of Brasília in 40 official matches played, excluding friendlies. Considering only the 23 valid games in NBB, Flamengo takes advantage with 12 wins against 11 wins of Brasília.

Brasília vs. Franca

Franca is the greatest champion in Twentieth century with ten national titles, so getting the nickname Capital of Basketball. But in last years, with the rise of Brasilia, that won four national titles, hat post became threatened. Besides the rivalry for recognition as the Capital of Basketball, teams competed in the finals of the CBB 2006/2007 and the 2010–11 NBB season, both won by Brasília.

In the 2010–11 NBB season, Franca had the advantage of playing three games of the final series at home, but Brasília took this advantage to win one of the matches in Franca. In the game 4, Brasília, playing at home, won the last game and was the champion for the second following time.

In the 2012–13 NBB season, Brasília found a renewed Franca, who had begun a total makeover of the team, with the recruitment of young players and a new coach. That would be just the headcoach Lula Ferreira, who had been champion with Brasilia two years earlier. Franca, with the best defense the league has a lot of work to the champions of the tree previous seasons, but were defeated in two matches.

In the 2013–14 NBB season, Franca won the first game by 75-70, realized in Franca, with a great game of Paulão Prestes, from Franca, who scored 16 points against his previous team.

Considering only the 20 valid games in NBB, in retrospect Brasilia takes advantage with 13 wins against 7 wins of Franca.

Flamengo vs. Franca

These two teams faced each other since the days of old Campeonato Brasileiro de Basquete. But in Novo Basquete Brasil, this rivalry have intensified. The first decision was in 2009–10 NBB season, when Flamengo won the series by 3-1, with a three-pointer in the last seconds made by Marcelinho Machado in game 4.

In the following season, 2010–11 NBB season, Franca won the series by 3-0. But in game 3 the guard of Franca Fernando Penna passed the ball between the legs of David Teague. Franca won Flamengo by fifteen points this moment. The other players of Flamengo, led by Marcelinho Machado, did not like that and started a lot of confusion, including the intervention of security.

In 2012–13 NBB season, Flamengo won the first game between them, in Franca, by 82-77. Led by Vitor Benite, with 21 points and 4 assists, and Olivinha, with 17 points and 11 rebounds, the team from Rio de Janeiro beat the young team led by the coach Lula Ferreira. In the second game, in Rio de Janeiro, Franca won Flamengo by 91-86, after lose by twelve points in the last quarter. This victory finished a twenty-victory sequence of Flamengo.

Considering only the 18 valid games in NBB, in retrospect Flamengo takes advantage with 10 wins against 8 wins of Franca.

Brasília vs. Uberlândia

Brasília and Uberlândia have a close relationship, where both teams have a good relationship between the directions and constantly negotiate players. But when the teams are in court, the rivalry the players themselves and the twisted surfaces, increasing the tension of the game. When games are played in Brasília the fans boo former players of Brasilia Valtinho and Estevam Ferreira. In contrast, when the games take place in Uberlândia, fans chase mainly the guard Nezinho dos Santos, which is actually persecuted throughout Brazil. These teams met in the quarterfinals of the playoffs in the 2010–11 NBB season. On this occasion, the team of Brasília beat Uberlândia 3-2.

Considering only the 11 valid games in NBB, in retrospect Brasília takes advantage with 6 wins against 5 wins of Uberlândia.

Flamengo vs. Pinheiros

The rivalry between Flamengo and Pinheiros represents more than a game between two of the greatest basketball teams in Brazil, but also a rivalry between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the two largest cities in Brazil. Flamengo and Pinheiros played the quarterfinal series in the 2009 NBB season and Flamengo beat its rival by 3-0, with wins by 92-87, 92-85 and 87-84. Marcelinho Machado was the best player in this series and made a double-double in game 1, with 40 points and 10 assists.

With the rise of Pinheiros, the became more balanced. In the 2010–11 NBB season and 2011–12 NBB season seasons Pinheiros finished the regular season in the third and second places, respectively, while Flamengo finished in the fourth place. In 2011–12 NBB season, Flamengo and Pinheiros played in the second round of the runoff when the games was tied by 88-88 missing four seconds. The forward Shamell Stallworth made a three-pointer with the clock reset already and gave the victory to Pinheiros. This game was extremely important because Pinheiros because Pinheiros finished the regular season in front of Flamengo precisely by direct confrontation. In semifinal four of 2012 Liga Sudamericana, Pinheiros was the host team of the semifinal, and played against Flamengo, who won the game between them in the second round, by 107-77. With that victory, Flamengo won a place on the Final Four, and Pinheiros, would be eliminated later.

But in the 2013 FIBA Americas League, Pinheiros hit back by beating Flamengo in the semifinal four, beginning with a devastating first quarter, and beating the locals at the end of the game after a wrong free throw from Marquinhos, former player of Pinheiros, at the end of the game. Pinheiros would be the champion of that tournament later. In the second game in the 2012–13 NBB season, the history repeated itself, with a great first quarter of Pinheiros and a victory at the end. The shooting guard Duda Machado, from Flamengo, broke its record for points in NBB, scoring 36 points in that game.

Considering only the 13 valid games in NBB, in retrospect Flamengo takes advantage with 8 wins against 5 wins of Pinheiros.

Brasília vs. Pinheiros

Brasília and Pinheiros became rivals after two following semifinal series, in the NBB 2010-11 and NBB 2011-12 seasons. In the two occasions Brasília beat Pinheiros. In the first one, Brasília won by 3-1, with results by 84-80, 90-89, 92-99 and 99-93.

But in the second time, Brasília needed to work much harder to eliminate Pinheiros. After win game 1 by 90-77, in Brasília, the team of Distrito Federal lost the game 2 by 81-65, in Rio de Janeiro. The following game, also in São Paulo, was won by Brasília by 76-74. When the series returned to Brasília, missed one victory for Brasília to reach the final. It was the most extraordinary game of the series, won by Pinheiros in overtime by 109-105, taking the series back to São Paulo. But in the game 5 Pinheiros did not resist the experience of Brasilia, that won by 81-68.

In the 2012–13 NBB season, Pinheiros won the two games between them, and in the second game, dispute in São Paulo, Pinheiros won with three-pointer of the center Rafael Mineiro, when the match was tied by 89-89. That three-pointer gave the victory to Pinheiros and interrupted sixteen-victory streak of Brasília.

Considering only the 19 valid games in NBB, in retrospect Brasília takes advantage with 12 wins against 7 wins of Pinheiros.

Flamengo vs. São José

The rivalry between Flamengo and São José started in the 2009–10 NBB season, when then team from Rio de Janeiro eliminated its rival in the quarterfinal series of the playoffs, with a victory by 3-0. The forward Marcelinho Machado made three great matches and led his team to the semifinal series. The 2011–12 NBB season was marked by the first victory of São José over Flamengo in the history of NBB. It happened on February 25, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, with a victory by 85-79.

That same season, both teams faced off in the playoffs again, this time in the semis. After five memorable games, with a lot of confusion and many technical fouls, São José eliminated Flamengo and reached its first final at the NBB. On the following season, 2012–13 NBB season, Flamengo won the two games between them in the regular season, after two matches marked by a great balance.

In the Playoffs of that season, Flamengo and São José disputed the semifinals, which had many technical fouls, excluded players. At the end of Game 4, widespread confusion began after Fúlvio of Assis and Marcelinho Machado discuss, which involved players and members of the coaching staffs from both teams. In Game 5, Flamengo, led by Vítor Benite and Duda Machado, won by 88-76 and qualified for the final, returning the defeat in the previous season.

Considering only the 24 valid games in NBB, in retrospect Flamengo takes advantage with 17 wins against 7 wins of São José.

Flamengo vs. Uberlândia

Flamengo and Uberlândia already decided Campeonato Brasileiro de Basquete in 2004, which was won by the team from Minas Gerais led by the guards Helinho and Valtinho, and the headcoach Helio Rubens. In tha occasion Uberlândia won the Final Series by 3-0. After Uberlândia dispute the NBB, in the 2010–2011 NBB season, the rivalry began to gain its contours. Uberlândia won the first three games between the both teams. But in the second round of the 2011–2012 NBB season, Flamengo won Uberlândia for the first time in NBB's history, in Ginásio Sabiazinho, thanks to two free throws converted by the Argentine Federico Kammerichs with five seconds to the end of the match, and Flamengo won by 98-96. In that same season, Flamengo won the quarterfinals series by 3-2. After winning the first two games of the series, the team from Gávea allowed Uberlândia tying the series. But in Game 5, played at Ginásio Álvaro Vieira Lima, Flamengo receveid a great support from its fans and won the match.

In the 2012–2013 NBB season Flamengo won the two games in the regular season. The first one was played at Ginásio Homero Santos, where Uberlândia had not been defeated in the season. Led by Marquinhos and Vítor Benite, Flamengo won by 87-78. The second game was played at Ginásio Álvaro Vieira Lima, where the superstars Marquinhos, of Flamengo, and Robert Day, of Uberlândia, scored 25 points each, and Flamengo won by 79-66. The both teams also faced each other in the 2013 NBB Final, played in single game at HSBC Arena. Flamengo played without Vítor Benite, who had suffered an ankle injury in the week of the Final. The Paraguayan Bruno Zanotti started in his place to mark Robert Day, the main player of Uberlândia. Zanotti has done an excellent job nullifying the American, who scored only 7 points. Led by the center Caio Torres, who has been chosen the Final MVP, with 25 points and 10 rebounds, Flamengo won its second title of NBB.

Brasília vs. São José

The rivalry between Brasília and São José began after the 2012 NBB Finals, which was disputed in single game. São José have finished the regular season on the first place, then it has the right to choose the venue where the Final would be played. But São José's host venue does not meet the requirements of Liga Nacional de Basquete, which states that an arena to host a game of Finals must comprise at least 4500 spectators. So São José chose an arena located in nearby town Mogi das Cruzes. Brasília took advantage of the fact that São José did not play in the Ginásio Lineu de Moura and won its third consecutive title, winning by 78-62.

In the 2012–2013 NBB season, the both met each other in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. In the regular season Brasília finished in the second place, while São José finished in the seventh place. São José, led by the point guard Fúlvio de Assis, the center Murilo Becker and the shooting guard Andre Laws, who have played a spectacular series, won by 3-2 and Brasília did not reach the semifinals for the first time in NBB. São José returned the defeat in the previous season and advanced to the semifinal to face Flamengo, team that eliminated São José later.

Uberlândia vs. Minas

Uberlândia and Minas dispute the hegemony of basketball of Minas Gerais. Minas was the main team of the state, when it was led by the guard Facundo Sucatzky and the Center Murilo Becker, while Uberlândia had not participated in the NBB. After entry of the Uberlândia in NBB and the output of Sucatzky and, especially Murilo, Uberlândia became stronger than Minas and assumed the status of main team of Minas Gerais.

In the 2012–13 NBB season, two wins to Uberlândia: in the first round, a suffered victory with a field goal of the point guard Helinho in the timer overflow. But in the second game, an easy win of Uberlândia and a spectacular match of the center Lucas Cipolini, author of incredible 36 points and 7 rebounds.

Considering only the 6 valid games in NBB, in retrospect Uberlândia takes advantage with 4 wins against 2 wins of Minas

Pinheiros vs. Paulistano

The century-old rivalry between these two teams goes beyond basketball and expands to other sports. Pinheiros is located in Jardim Europa neighborhood, while Paulistano is located in the Jardim América neighborhood, both noble neighborhoods of Western Zone of São Paulo. Pinheiros and Paulistano met in the first round of the playoffs in 2009–10 NBB season and Pinheiros won the series by 3-0, with wins by 101-93, 94-92 and 74-73.

In 2011–12 NBB season, Pinheiros needed to win Paulistano in the last round of the regular season, and root against São José, for finish in the first place. In addition to taking the first place of the biggest rival, Paulistano fought for seventh place with Joinville. Playing at home, Piheiros was defeated in overtime by 87-82 and finished in the second place, while Paulistano finished in the seventh place.

In the 2012 State Championship Pinheiros and Paulistano decided the semifinal series and Pinheiros beat Paulistano by 3-0.

Considering only the 14 valid games in NBB, in retrospect Pinheiros takes advantage with 10 wins against 4 wins of Paulistano.

Flamengo vs. Tijuca

Flamengo vs. Tijuca are the only classic of Rio de Janeiro in NBB. It is an old rivalry disputed many state championships, but Tijuca never won Flamengo in the finals. The last two finals of state championship were played for them, both won by Flamengo. In 2012, Flamengo and Tijuca disputed the state championship with four teams. They reached the final without difficulties, and Flamengo the final series by 2-0 winning ist eighth straight state title. Despite these recent disputes, Flamengo and Tijuca have a great relationship both among his players as among the twisted. Fact is that Flamengo plays their games in the arena of Tijuca, Ginásio Álvaro Vieira Lima.

The rivalry intensified after the end of the state championship in 2012 when the guard of the Tijuca Arnaldinho and the center of Flamengo Shilton dos Santos fell out and offended each other. In the second game between the teams, in the 2012–13 NBB season, the same players almost fought in court, Arnaldinho accused Shilton as a dirty player and just know to beat, while Shilton accused Arnaldinho of engaging their children in history. Controversy aside, this was the most balanced game between the two teams in the history of the NBB, with a victory to Flamengo in the second overtime by 107-103.

Considering only the 4 valid games in NBB, in retrospect Flamengo takes advantage with 4 wins against no win of Tijuca.

Franca vs. Bauru

Franca is the greatest rival of Bauru since the team from Bauru was created, in 1996. Since the resumption of basketball in Bauru, in 2007, there were 30 games between the two teams, with great advantage of Franca, despite they never had met in the playoffs in NBB. But they played the playoffs in the state championship two times, in 2008 and 2010, with two wins of Franca. The rivalry even extrapolates this association and gets historical contours. Franca was the team that Bauru won the only title in the state championship, in 1999. The rematch came the following year, with the victory of a young team of Franca that was passing a makeover.

The first meeting in playoffs between the both teams happened in the 2012–2013 NBB season, for the quarterfinals series. The series was played in five games, where Bauru had the advantage to play three games at its venue Ginásio Panela de Pressão. The series was extremely balanced and its first game was at Ginásio Pedrocão and it had an episode where the AMerican center Jeff Agba, from Bauru caused am injury to the small forward Jonathan Luz, from Franca. The headcoach Lula Ferreira lost one of his key players for the rest of the season. Despite Jinathan's injury Franca won the game by 72-69. Because of that Jeff Agba was prevented the second match of the series, which was won by Bauru (86-79), which had suffered during the match with the few available, since, besides Jeff Agba, the point guard Ricardo Fischer did not play due to an injury suffered in Game 1. Bauru also won the Game 3 (87-78), forcing Franca to have to win Game 4 at its host venue to bring the series back to Bauru. And it happened. Franca won by 70-62 and the series returned to Panela de Pressão. In the last game of the series, Bauru won by 78-71. "The Alien" Larry Taylor shone, Bauru grabbed the reaction of Franca and qualified for the semifinals of the NBB for the first time in history.

Considering only the 15 valid games in NBB, in retrospect Bauru takes advantage with 8 wins against 7 wins of Franca.

Bauru vs. São José

Bauru and São José have a rivalry that has come from the state championship, which Bauru got the better of São José for a few years until Fúlvio de Assis and Murilo Becker reach São José dos Campos to strengthen the team of the Paraíba Valley. With the arrival of these two players, São José became other team, respected by the all others. They eliminated Bauru in the semifinal series in the State Championship two consecutive years. In the 2012 State Championship, São José eliminated Bauru after five games. The last game was in Bauru, with a victory in the last seconds.

In the 2012–13 NBB season, which also happened in Ginásio Panela de Pressão, Bauru played driven by a sense of revenge, in a match marked by the individual duel between the guards Larry Taylor also known as The Alien, and Fúlvio de Assis. Bauru won that spectacular game by 87-82. Larry Taylor made 25 points, 11 rebounds and distributed five assists, while Fúlvio made 19 points, 7 rebounds and distributed five assists. That victory reached Bauru to the fourth place in the championship.

Considering only the 10 valid games in NBB, in retrospect Bauru takes advantage with 8 wins against 2 wins of São José.

NBB MVP Award

The NBB MVP Award is a NBB award given to the best performing player of the season. It's given since the first season of the Brazilian league, in 2009. The greatest winner is the forward Marcelinho Machado, with two consecutive awards. The award is given at the end of the season, at the wrap party of the championship, one day after the final game. Before the event, three candidates are announced and during the event the winner is chosen.

NBB Finals MVP Award

The NBB Finals MVP Award is the MVP award of the final playoff series of the top professional basketball league in Brazil, the NBB. The award has been given out since the 2010–11 NBB season.

NBB Best Sixth Player

The NBB Best Sixth Player is a NBB award, given since the NBB 2009 to the most valuable substitute player, called sixth man. The award is given at the end of the season, at the wrap party of the championship, one day after the final game. Before the event, three candidates are announced and during the event the winner is chosen.

NBB Revelation Player

The NBB Revelation Player is NBB award given since the 2009-2010 NBB season to the player considered the greatest discovery of the season. Normally the award is given to player who attended the NBB U-22, also called Liga de Desenvolvimento de Basquete. But it is not a rule. The first two awards were not given to players from NBB U-22.The award is given at the end of the season, at the wrap party of the championship, one day after the final game. Before the event, three candidates are announced and during the event the winner is chosen.

NBB Most Improved Player

The NBB Most Improved Player is a NBB award given since the 2009-10 to the most improved player of the season.The award is given at the end of the season, at the wrap party of the championship, one day after the final game. Before the event, three candidates are announced and during the event the winner is chosen.

NBB Best Defender

The NBB Best Defender is a Novo Basquete Brasil award given since the 2009 NBB season to the top defensive player of the season. The winner of the award in all of the 6 times that it was given so far is the shooting guard Alex Garcia, who won the award six times. The award is given at the end of the season, at the wrap party of the championship, one day after the final game. Before the event, three candidates are announced and during the event the winner is chosen.

NBB Coach of the Year

The NBB Coach of the Year is a NBB award, given since the NBB 2009 to the best coach of the season. The trophy given to the winner is called Ary Vidal Trophy, in a tribute to one of the greatest Brazilian coaches in history. Before the event, three candidates are announced and during the event the winner is chosen.