Wlamir Marques (born July 16, 1936), also known simply as Wlamir, is a Brazilian former basketball player and coach. He is considered to be one of the best Brazilian basketball players of all time, and to have been one of the best players in the world during the 1960s. Alongside fellow countrymen Amaury Pasos, Algodão, and Rosa Branca, he led the best basketball generation Brazil ever had. At a height of 1.85 m (6'1") tall, he played at the small forward position. He was nicknamed "The Flying Saucer", and "The Blonde Devil".

Wlamir Marques
Personal information
Born (1936-07-16) July 16, 1936 (age 88)[1]
São Vicente, Brazil
Listed height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Listed weight86 kg (190 lb)
Career information
NBA draft1959: undrafted
Playing career1953–1973
PositionSmall forward
Number5
Coaching career1961–1988
Career history
As player:
1953–1954Clube de Regatas Piracicaba
1955–1961XV de Novembro
1962–1972S.C. Corinthians Paulista
1973Tênis Clube de Campinas
As coach:
1961Limeira
1963–1964S.C. Corinthians Paulista women
1968XV de Novembro women
1970–1971S.C. Corinthians Paulista
1975Palmeiras
1977Hebraica
1981–1982São Caetano women
1987–1988Cerquilho
Career highlights and awards
As a player:
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  Brazil
Summer Olympics
Bronze medal – third place 1960 Rome Team
Bronze medal – third place 1964 Tokyo Team
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1959 Chile Team
Gold medal – first place 1963 Brazil Team
Silver medal – second place 1954 Brazil Team
Silver medal – second place 1970 Yugoslavia Team
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 1963 São Paulo Team
Bronze medal – third place 1955 Mexico City Team
Bronze medal – third place 1959 Chicago Team
FIBA South American Championship
Gold medal – first place 1958 Chile Team
Gold medal – first place 1960 Argentina Team
Gold medal – first place 1961 Brazil Team
Gold medal – first place 1963 Peru Team
Bronze medal – third place 1955 Colombia Team

Along with Kresimir Cosic, Marques is one of the top two medalists in FIBA World Cup history, having won 2 gold medals and 2 silver medals. He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991. The Ginásio Poliesportivo Wlamir Marques arena is named after him, in his honor.

Club career

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At the club level, Marques played as a junior with São Vicente, and at the senior level with XV de Novembro, S.C. Corinthians, and Tênis Clube Campinas. He won the Brazilian League in 1965, 1966, and 1969, with S.C. Corinthians. He won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup's 1965 Test Cup championship, a game in which he scored 51 points.[2][3]

National team career

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Marques played for the senior men's Brazilian national team, and with them he won the 1959 FIBA World Championship and the 1963 FIBA World Championship gold medals. He was the MVP of the 1963 FIBA World Championship. He also won silver medals at the 1954 FIBA World Championship and 1970 FIBA World Championship.

He won bronze medals at the 1960 Summer Olympic Games and the 1964 Summer Olympic Games, a silver medal at the 1963 Pan American Games, and bronze medals at the 1955 Pan American Games and 1959 Pan American Games.[4]

Post-playing career

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After his basketball playing career ended, Marques worked as a head basketball coach. He then worked as a sports commentator for basketball games on ESPN Brasil, and has been an active personality on the show called, "Brazilian Basketball Reborn", working as an important voice on TV and internet channels.

References

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  1. ^ Wlamir Marques at Olympedia
  2. ^ Brazil legend Wlamir Marques helped lay foundation for FIBA Intercontinental Cup with 51-point explosion for Corinthians.
  3. ^ Long, rich history of FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
  4. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Wlamir Marques Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
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