Bira Maciel
Inducted:
2010
Player Stats
6 ft 6.5 in (1.99 m)
212 lb (96 kg)
Born
January 18, 1944
São Paulo, Brazil
Died
July 17, 2002
Brasília, Brazil
Position:
Power forward
Center
College:
NA
Ubiratan "Bira" Pereira Maciel, known affectionately as "O Rei" (The King), is the greatest center in the history of Brazilian basketball. While the NBA did not officially integrate international players during the peak of his career in the 1960s and 70s, Bira was a global titan of the hardwood. He was the defensive anchor and emotional leader of the Brazilian National Team for over two decades.
Bira was a master of the "crafty" left-handed post game. He led Brazil to its most successful era, securing a World Championship in 1963 and an Olympic Bronze in 1964. His impact was so significant that he was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players. Though he passed away in 2002, his legacy was immortalized with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Maciel's Awards and Records
- FIBA World Champion (1963)
- Olympic Bronze Medalist (1964)
- 5x Brazilian League Champion
- FIBA's 50 Greatest Players (1991)
- FIBA Order of Merit (1994)
- FIBA Hall of Fame (2009)
NBA Team
Clube Espéria (1960–1961)
Corinthians (1961–1969)
Venezia (1969–1972)
Trianon Clube (1972)
Sírio (1972–1973)
Palmeiras (1973–1978)
São José dos Campos (1978–1982)
National team
Brazil
Number Worn
6
NBA Stats
Playing career:
1960–1982
Olympic appearances:
3
Olympic Medals:
1 Bronze (1964 Tokyo)
FIBA World Cup Appearances:
5 (1963, 1967, 1970, 1974, and 1978)
Games Played:
41
Points:
474
World Championship Gold:
1 (1963 Brazil)
World Championship Medals:
4 (1 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze)
Brazilian Championships:
5 (1965, 1966, 1969, 1977, 1981)
South American Championships:
5