Edy Tavares
Walter Samuel "Edy" Tavares da Veiga (born 22 March 1992) is a Cape Verdean professional basketball player for Real Madrid of the Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He was selected with the 43rd overall pick in 2014 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks and has played internationally for the Cape Verde national basketball team. Tavares receives praise as a physical phenomenon, standing 7'3" tall and possessing a 7'9" wingspan.[1]
Tavares with Cleveland in 2017 | |
No. 22 – Real Madrid | |
---|---|
Position | Center |
League | Liga ACB EuroLeague |
Personal information | |
Born | Maio, Cape Verde | 22 March 1992
Nationality | Cape Verdean |
Listed height | 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) |
Listed weight | 265 lb (120 kg) |
Career information | |
NBA draft | 2014 / Round: 2 / Pick: 43rd overall |
Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |
Playing career | 2009–present |
Career history | |
2009–2015 | Gran Canaria |
2011–2013 | →La Palma |
2015–2016 | Atlanta Hawks |
2015–2016 | →Austin Spurs |
2015 | →Canton Charge |
2016 | →Bakersfield Jam |
2016–2017 | Raptors 905 |
2017 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
2017 | Raptors 905 |
2017–present | Real Madrid |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Early life
Tavares was born in Cape Verde on the island of Maio. He did not play any basketball until he was 17 years old, and his talent was discovered by a German tourist who was on vacation in Cape Verde in 2009.[2][3]
Professional career
Spain
From 2009 to 2011, Tavares played for CB Gran Canaria's junior team in the Liga EBA.[3] In 2011, he was loaned to UB La Palma of the LEB Oro for the 2011–12 season. In 2012, he returned to Gran Canaria and made his Liga ACB debut on 6 January 2013. He also played three games for La Palma in 2012–13 as well.
In April 2013, Tavares declared for the 2013 NBA draft[4] but later withdrew his name and returned to Gran Canaria for the 2013–14 season.
On 19 June 2014, Tavares re-signed with Gran Canaria on a three-year deal,[5] while still remaining eligible for the 2014 NBA draft.[6]
On 26 June 2014, Tavares was selected with the 43rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks, becoming the first Cape Verdean-born player to be drafted in the NBA.[7] On 26 August 2014, it was announced Tavares would return to Gran Canaria for the 2014–15 season.[8] During their 2014–15 season, Tavares earned All-EuroCup First Team honors.
Atlanta Hawks
On 6 July 2015, Tavares joined the Atlanta Hawks for the 2015 NBA Summer League.[9] Three days later, he signed a multi-year deal with the Hawks.[10] He made his debut for the Hawks on 29 October recording one point and one rebound in a 112–101 win over the New York Knicks.[11] During his rookie season, using the flexible assignment rule, Tavares received multiple assignments to the Austin Spurs, Canton Charge and Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.[12] On 31 October 2016, he was waived by the Hawks after appearing in one game for the team in the 2016–17 season.[13]
Raptors 905
On 12 November 2016, Tavares was acquired by Raptors 905 of the NBA Development League.[14] On February 6, 2017, he was named in the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the 2017 NBA D-League All-Star Game.[15] At the season's end, he was named the recipient of the NBA Development League Defensive Player of the Year Award.[16]
Cleveland Cavaliers
On 12 April 2017, Tavares signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.[17] He made his debut for the Cavaliers that night, recording 10 rebounds and 6 blocks in a 99–83 loss to the Toronto Raptors.[18] Tavares did not play at all in the 2017 playoffs due to a hand injury.[19] On 11 October 2017, Tavares was waived by the Cavaliers.[20]
Brief return to Raptors 905
Shortly after getting waived by the Cavaliers, Tavares returned to Raptors 905, ultimately playing only one regular season game for them, scoring 13 points, with 10 rebounds and 3 blocks vs. the Grand Rapids Drive on 5 November 2017.
Return to Spain
On 10 November 2017, Tavares signed with Real Madrid until the end of the 2019–20 season.[21][22] In May 2018, Real Madrid won the 2017–18 EuroLeague championship, after defeating Fenerbahçe in the final game with 85–80.[23] Over 17 EuroLeague games, Tavares averaged 6.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
On 21 September 2019, Tavares set an individual record for most blocks in a Spanish Supercup game, with 7 blocks in the semi-final against Fuenlabrada.[24]
Career statistics
Legend | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | ||
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage | ||
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | ||
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance Index Rating | ||
Bold | Career high |
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.
† | Denotes season in which Tavares' team won the EuroLeague |
Led the league |
NBA
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015–16 | Atlanta | 11 | 0 | 6.6 | .579 | .000 | .375 | 1.9 | .3 | .1 | .6 | 2.3 |
2016–17 | Atlanta | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | 1.000 | .000 | .000 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
2016–17 | Cleveland | 1 | 0 | 24.0 | .750 | .000 | .000 | 10.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
Career | 13 | 0 | 7.8 | .625 | .000 | .273 | 2.5 | .3 | .1 | .9 | 2.5 |
EuroLeague
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017–18† | Real Madrid | 29 | 23 | 17.4 | .682 | .000 | .623 | 5.3 | .5 | .4 | 1.5 | 6.5 | 10.6 |
2018–19 | 34 | 28 | 19.4 | .794 | .000 | .632 | 6.2 | .7 | .4 | 1.7 | 7.4 | 13.4 | |
Career | 63 | 51 | 18.5 | .743 | .000 | .628 | 5.8 | .6 | .4 | 1.6 | 7.0 | 12.1 |
Domestic leagues
Season | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011–12 | UB La Palma | LEB Oro | 21 | 6.7 | .552 | .000 | .333 | 1.7 | .0 | .2 | .5 | 1.6 |
2012–13 | Herbalife Gran Canaria | Liga ACB | 12 | 5.6 | .500 | .000 | .667 | 2.2 | .2 | .2 | .5 | 1.5 |
2013–14 | 35 | 20.7 | .593 | .000 | .722 | 6.8 | .3 | .5 | 1.5 | 6.0 | ||
2014–15 | 36 | 22.0 | .583 | .000 | .628 | 7.9 | .3 | .8 | 1.8 | 8.0 | ||
2017–18 | Real Madrid | 36 | 20.6 | .674 | .000 | .582 | 6.3 | .5 | .4 | 2.2 | 7.9 |
References
- "22 – Walter Tavares". NBADraft.com. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- "Walter Tavares: The biggest unknown in the draft". HoopsHype.com. May 8, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- "Who Is Walter Tavares: Meet NBA Draft's Mystery 7-Footer". BleacherReport.com. June 7, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
- "Walter Tavares declares for the NBA Draft". Sportando.com. April 22, 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
- "Gran Canaria extends Walter Tavares for three years". Sportando.com. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- "Draft prospect Walter Tavares signs three-year deal with Gran Canaria". CBSSports.com. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- "Tavares selected 43rd by the Hawks". SuperSport.com. June 27, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- "Tavares back for another season with Gran Canaria". AJC.com. August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
- "Edy Tavares, Mike Muscala Headline Hawks' Summer League Roster". NBA.com. July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
- "Hawks Sign Walter "Edy" Tavares". NBA.com. July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
- "Hawks beat Knicks 112-101 for 1st victory of the season". NBA.com. October 29, 2015. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- "2015-16 NBA Assignments". NBA.com. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
- "Hawks Request Waivers On Edy Tavares". NBA.com. October 31, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
- "RAPTORS 905 ACQUIRE EDY TAVARES". NBA.com. November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
- "Rosters for 2017 NBA Development League All-Star Game Presented By Kumho Tire". NBA.com. February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- "Edy Tavares Named 2016-17 NBA D-League Defensive Player of The Year". NBA.com. April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
- "Cavaliers Sign Dahntay Jones and Edy Tavares". NBA.com. April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
- "Raptors prep for playoffs, beat "resting" Cavaliers 98-83". ESPN.com. April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- Chiari, Mike (May 14, 2017). "Cavaliers Center Walter Tavares Out Indefinitely with Hand Injury". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
- "Cavaliers Waive Edy Tavares". NBA.com. October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- "Official Announcement: Tavares | Real Madrid CF". Real Madrid C.F. - Web Oficial. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- "This is Walter Tavares | Real Madrid CF". Real Madrid C.F. - Web Oficial. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- "Real Madrid is 2018 EuroLeague champion". euroleague.net. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- "Walter Tavares sets record for most Supercopa Endesa blocks". Eurohoops. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com, or Basketball-Reference.com
- Edy Tavares at acb.com (in Spanish)
- Edy Tavares at euroleague.net