Tiago Splitter

Brazil and Spain (1999–2010)

Splitter began his professional career in 1999. In 2000, he began to play in the Spanish Liga ACB.

In 2004, Splitter became a naturalised citizen of Spain.

Splitter was named the MVP of the Spanish Supercup tournament in both 2006 and 2007. He was also named to the All-EuroLeague First Team for the EuroLeague 2007–08 season, after leading Saski Baskonia to the 2008 EuroLeague Final Four. The following year, Splitter reached the EuroLeague 2008–09 season playoffs, but failed to make another EuroLeague Final Four participation. His performances earned him a spot on the 2008–09 All-EuroLeague Second Team nevertheless. Splitter was named the Spanish League MVP in 2010.

Splitter was expected to declare for the 2006 NBA Draft, but because the expensive buyout of his contract discouraged NBA teams with high draft picks from drafting him, he remained in the Spanish ACB League for that season. Splitter was automatically eligible for the 2007 NBA Draft, as he was at least 22 years of age at the time of the draft. He was selected in the first round, with the 28th draft pick overall, by the San Antonio Spurs.

On May 28, 2008, ESPN Brazil reported that Splitter re-signed on a two-year contract with Saski Baskonia, that would keep him in the Spanish ACB League through the 2009–10 NBA season. The contract allowed the Brazilian to make 8 times more than the NBA rookie scale salary cap would have allowed him to make with the San Antonio Spurs. On June 7, 2008, the San Antonio Express-News reported that Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford stated that Splitter had informed the team that he would not be coming to San Antonio for the 2008–09 NBA season.

Splitter had instead signed an extension with Saski Baskonia that would keep him in the Spanish ACB League through 2010. It was announced on July 9, 2010, that Splitter had opted out of his contract with Saski Baskonia to sign in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs.

San Antonio Spurs (2010–2015)

On July 12, 2010, Splitter signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs. The deal was believed to be worth $11 million over 3 years.

He earned his first start of his NBA career on March 19, against the Charlotte Bobcats, in place of Tim Duncan, who had gotten injured.

On February 8, 2012, Splitter and teammate Kawhi Leonard, were selected to play in the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge. On February 17, it was revealed that both Splitter and Leonard would be teammates for Team Chuck. However, due to an injury, he was released from Team Chuck, and was replaced by Derrick Favors.

On May 29, 2012, in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks attempted to slow San Antonio's offense through continual the fouling of Splitter, sending him to the free throw line with the "Hack-a-Shaq" strategy.

He played his most productive season with the Spurs in 2012–13 NBA season, averaging 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, while playing all but the final game of the regular season. He started 58 games, as the Spurs finished the West in the two-seed behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs would advance to the 2013 NBA Finals, only to lose to the Miami Heat in seven games, as Miami won their second straight championship.

On July 13, 2013, he re-signed with the Spurs. On June 15, 2014, Splitter won his first NBA championship, after the Spurs defeated the Miami Heat, 4 games to 1 in the 2014 NBA Finals.

After missing the first 20 out of 21 games of the 2014–15 season with a back injury, Splitter played out the rest of the season, until missing the final six games of the regular season, with a calf injury. He returned for the playoffs, but the Spurs were knocked out in the first round by the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games.

Atlanta Hawks (2015–2017)

On July 9, 2015, Splitter was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, in exchange for the draft rights to Georgios Printezis and a future second-round pick. On February 16, 2016, he was ruled out for the rest of the season, after electing to have surgery to repair his right hip.

On October 11, 2016, Splitter was ruled out for four weeks with a grade 2 hamstring strain. He was ruled out for a further six weeks, on November 26, after an MRI exam revealed a grade 2 right calf strain.

Philadelphia 76ers (2017)

On February 22, 2017, Splitter was traded, along with a second-round pick, to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ersan İlyasova. On March 21, 2017, he was assigned to the Delaware 87ers, the 76ers' D-League affiliate. He was recalled six days later. On March 28, 2017, he made his debut for the 76ers, recording two points and three rebounds in seven minutes in a 106–101 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Splitter, who had been nursing a right calf injury, entered late in the first quarter for his first game since January 31, 2016 while with the Atlanta Hawks before undergoing hip surgery.

Brazilian national team

Splitter won gold medals with the Brazilian national basketball team at the 2003 South American Championship, the 2003 Pan American Games, the 2005 FIBA Americas Championship, the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship, and the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship.

Personal life

Splitter is the son of Cassio and Elisabeth Splitter. He was raised a Christian despite his father being of Jewish descent.

In 2009, Splitter's sister Michelle, also a basketball player, died of leukemia at the age of 19.

In 2010, Splitter married Amaia. The couple had two children together before finalizing a divorce in 2016.

Career statistics

Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the player participated for the team during the season. He also played in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.