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Leandro BarbosaBrazilian professional basketball player
Date of Birth: 28.11.1982
Country:  Brazil |
Content:
Leandro Barbosa
Early Career in BrazilLeandro Barbosa began his professional basketball career at the age of 17 with Palmeiras, a second-division team in Brazil. In 2001, he joined the first-division team Bauru Tilibra. During the 2001/2002 season, Barbosa was named the Brazilian Championship Rookie of the Year and helped the team win its first-ever championship. The following season, he averaged 28.2 points per game, the highest scoring average in the Brazilian Championship since the legendary Oscar Schmidt.
NBA Draft and Phoenix Suns
In the 2003 NBA Draft, Leandro Barbosa was selected with the 28th overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs. However, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns on the same day for a future first-round draft pick. Barbosa quickly became known for his speed and athleticism, earning the nickname "The Brazilian Blur." He won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award for the 2006/2007 season.
International Career
Barbosa is a member of the Brazilian national basketball team. He helped the team win the 2005 FIBA Americas Championship. Barbosa is affectionately known as "Leandrinho" in Brazil.
Trades and Later Career
On July 14, 2010, Barbosa was traded to the Toronto Raptors along with Dwayne Jones for Hedo Türkoğlu. On March 15, 2012, the Raptors traded Barbosa to the Indiana Pacers for a second-round draft pick.
Personal Life
Leandro Barbosa is married to Brazilian actress Samara Felippo. They have a daughter named Alicia, who was born on June 25, 2009, in Rio de Janeiro.
