João Vianna
João "Pipoka" José Vianna, also commonly known as "Pipoka" (born November 15, 1963 in Brasília), is a former professional basketball player from Brazil. At a height of 2.06 m (6'9") tall, he played at the power forward position.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 November 1963 Brasília, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Position | Power forward |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Professional career
During his pro club career, Vianna won 5 Brazilian Championships, in the seasons 1985, 1986 (I), 1986 (II), 1987, and 2007. Vianna also played briefly with the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), during the 1991–92 season, becoming just the second Brazilian player to play in the NBA, after Rolando Ferreira.
National team career
Vianna represented the senior Brazilian national basketball team at the 1988 Summer Olympics, the 1992 Summer Olympics, and the 1996 Summer Olympics, as well as several other international competitions. He was also a part of the Brazilian national team that won the 1987 Pan American Games, in Indianapolis, over Team USA.
He also played at the 1986 FIBA World Cup, the 1990 FIBA World Cup, the 1994 FIBA World Cup, and the 1998 FIBA World Cup.