Marcelo Huertas
Marcelo "Marcelinho" Tieppo Huertas (born 25 May 1983) is a Brazilian professional basketball player for Iberostar Tenerife of the Spanish Liga ACB. He is also a member of the senior men's Brazilian national basketball team, and holds Italian citizenship. At 32 years old he was the second oldest rookie in the NBA after Pablo Prigioni and before Andre Ingram. After signing with the Lakers in 2015 he played 1 and a half seasons with the Lakers before returning to Spain in 2017. Professional career. Early years in Brazil and Texas. Huertas began his career playing with the  youth basketball teams of the multi-sports club E.C. Pinheiros in Brazil. After playing high school basketball at Coppell High School in Coppell, Texas, he made his senior men's team debut in the 2001–02 season, with the senior men's team of FMU São Paulo. He then moved to the senior men's basketball team of E.C. Pinheiros, for the 2002–03 season, where he played in the top Brazilian League. He then returned to FMU São Paulo for the 2003–04 season. Europe. Huertas joined the Spanish club DKV Joventut in 2004, and stayed there until 2007. Next, he moved  to the Spanish club Bilbao Basket for the 2007–08 season. He then played with Fortitudo Bologna in the Italian League, during the 2008–09 season. In August 2009, he signed a three-year contract with the Spanish League club Caja Laboral. On 9 August 2011, he signed a four-year contract with the Spanish League club Regal FC Barcelona Los Angeles Lakers (2015–2017). On 9 September 2015, Huertas signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. He made his debut for the Lakers in the team's season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on 28 October, recording 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 2  assists in a 112–111 loss. On 6 March 2016, he recorded season-highs of 10 points and 9 assists in a 112–95 win over the Golden State Warriors. Four days later, he had a season-best game with 13 points and 5 assists in a 120–108 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. On 5 August 2016, Huertas re-signed with the Lakers. On 23 February 2017, Huertas was traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Tyler Ennis. Upon being acquired by the Rockets, Huertas was waived by the team. Return to Spain. On 25 July 2017, Huertas signed a two -year deal with Baskonia. On 23 July 2019, Huertas signed a two-year deal with Iberostar Tenerife. He averaged 12.9 points and 8.3 assists per game. Huertas re-signed with the team on 4 June 2020. He was named to the All-Basketball Champions League First Team. National team career. Huertas has been a member of the senior men's Brazilian national basketball team. With Brazil's senior national team, he won the gold medal at the 2005 FIBA Americas Championship, the 2006 South American Championship, the 2007 Pan American Games, and the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship. He also won  the silver medal at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship. He also played at the following tournaments: the 2006 FIBA World Championship, the 2010 FIBA World Championship, the 2012 Summer Olympics, the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, and the 2016 Summer Olympics.