From Maranhão, Ruan Michel Miranda - a.k.a. "Ruantetokounmpo" - is the new center for the Mexico City Capitanes in the G-League. Alongside Alexey and Mãozinha, the 6'9 and 250lb giant finally gets a taste of the NBA, with an unexpected trajectory and fellow Brazilians to celebrate their achievements.
Flamengo's anchor at the youth squad, Ruan couldn't establish himself in the 'Rubro-Negro' and was loaned to Cerrado early in his pro journey. In the new club, the Maranhão native surprised averaging 12.0 PPJ and 6.9 RPJ, and soon betted on the mid-west project as his new home after his stint in Rio. During the 2022-23 NBB season, and having just turned 21, Ruan dominated the league with 15.4 PPG; 8.0 RPG; 1.2 BLKPG, and 62.0% field goal percentage.
With absolute prominence, he earned the Best Young Player of the NBB trophy and MVP of the 2022 LDB - the U22 tourney - where he had 18.1 PPG; 11.9 RPG; 2.7 ASTPG, and 1.3 BLKPG.
After that, Ruan signed with São Paulo's powerhouse of Paulistano for the 23-24 season, but a late text message changed his plans.
- How did you get the call to become a Capitanes player?
"I was going to declare for the NBA G-League International Draft, on October 28th! But the call from Capitanes arrived on the 27th, after a late-night game against Bauru and a trip back to São Paulo. My agent called me and informed me I had to sign the contract by 10 am. I didn't even have time to think! I didn't even have time to talk to my family. I took it, signed it, and went to sleep!"
- From Flamengo to Cerrado, from Paulistano to Mexico: could you imagine this path?
"When I was at Flamengo, in 2019, I told myself I would have only 4 years to prepare for the NBA. Preparing both on the court: tactically and technically, and in the gym. These two pillars were my focus. Since then, there have been many ups and downs with moments when I honestly thought of giving up. Frankly, the transition from the youth squad to the pros is not easy, and you need a good head on your shoulders for the moments when you doubt yourself! But I stuck to the goal, overcame all adversity, and achieved it! I'm in the NBA G-League! It's still a step below the NBA, so it's an accomplishment but the job is not done."
- Going to the G-League involves adaptation, both on and off the court. How do you see yourself in the NBA game? Is it a style that you like?
"I think it's all a matter of adaptation, as you said. Over time, I'll adapt to the game, which is different and even has some different rules. The language is the hardest part of this adaptation. But I can adjust quickly, and I don't think that all of this will be a problem for me."
- Are you looking forward to living the G-League lifestyle 24/7?
"I'm excited! I woke up today thinking about the debut, and it was almost 16 hours before tip-off, and all I could think was: 'I want to play! I want to play!'. I'm looking forward to the season!"
- 14 Brazilians played in the G-League, and 9 of them managed to play in the biggest league in the world. For you, what are the next steps to become 10th on this list?
"I think I have a lot to improve! In my opinion, I don't have the perfect body to play in the NBA, even though I have improved my size a lot. My three-point shot needs work, and I believe that my ability to shoot will make a huge difference in my journey to the NBA. If I improve these two aspects and impress at Capitanes, I think I can go to the NBA. I believe I have a very good game in the low post, so I'll continue to work on that. But now I need to improve my shot. I believe I can get a spot in the NBA."
Don't know Ruan? Check the mixtape:
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