An Angolan Player in the NBA?

Morais, Carlos

Born: Oct 16, 1985

Height: 6´4” (1,95 m)

Weight: 200 lbs. (91 Kg)

Prior to NBA: Petro Atlético (Angola)

Years pro: R

Here is a player profile sheet that I would very much love to see shortly on the official website of the NBA. Carlos Morais is not the first Angolan player  to do tryouts in the NBA - not even the first time that he does so himself- but it is believed that he could become the first player to sign and play through regular season in the League.

In the opinion of many experts, he is not the first angolan with a great chance to integrate a team in the best basketball league in the world. Jean-Jacques da Conceição, notorious Angolan player in the '80s and '90s, headlining the team who first participated in the Olympics, was for years considered the best African player, outside America. What are the reasons for a player with that potential, as well as several other stars with as much potential, to  have never even approached the NBA (apart for the famous altercation with Charles Barkley in Barcelona 92)? In my opinion, the reasons are mainly the following:

The Path. Most foreign players, African in  particular, that make it into the NBA do so through American universities. Some rare come from the major European leagues, where  American scouts have gone increasingly seeking players. Now, with the exception of Carlos Morais, who had a brief stint by a U.S. high school in 2004-2005 (Community Christian School in Georgia) none of the other Angolan candidates  had the experience of an entire season in an American structure, even if at high school level. Is that in the United States, school sport is extremely well organized, supported and sponsored, as colleges and universities are the main hotbed of American sports champions. The competitive mindset, mental preparation and psychological conditioning, the "winner mentality" begins in high school, where jocks reign as champions in the arena. Although it may appear short, this experience always proves to be valuable, influencing the attitude of the player throughout his career, and especially, allowing him to understand what is expected from him during a tryout.

- Physicality. African players entering the NBA are generally tall (above 2.05 meters). Although he is two meters tall, Jean-Jacques, as all Angolans ever cited as potential candidates for the American League, was lighter than his direct rivals. In a competition where you can play back-to-back-to-back (3 games in 3 consecutive nights), the ability to withstand the physical shocks is paramount. With his six foot three and ninety kilos, Carlos Morais is a shooting guard in the Angolan championship, so his direct opponents would be players like Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Ray Allen and Joe Johnson. Without being physically very far from these players (we saw his good physical condition during AfroBasket 2013, from which he ended MVP), the biggest challenge for Carlos Morais to join the NBA, would be to maintain an even game level during the long campaign of 82 games, long coast to coast trips, etc...

- Fundamentals. Angola has had, throughout their numerous campaigns in continental, world and Olympic competitions, very few tall players, able to dominate the paint offensive or defensively. Thus, they early had to opt for the methodical execution of basketball  fundamentals: defense solidarity, ball movement, movement without the ball, handles, game vision, shooting. In short, the absence of big players made ​​the team aware of the need to act as a team ever since. In this context, the absence of a figurehead as other African teams with players already in NBA, forced them to work exhaustively all departments of the game. This has always been perhaps the greatest hindrance to Angolan players integrate the American League. Collectively they are good, to the point that there is a homogeneity that prevents ONE OF THEM from shining. However, there have always been some that cause greater impression, as Jean-Jacques, Miguel Lutonda and Kikas Gomes in their time, as today we have Carlos Morais. He has a strong fundamental basis, proved able to play as a team and thoroughly implement "the plan." Good defense, good shot (best three point shooter of the African Championship Tournament 2013  and top scorer of the Angolan championship in 2011 and 2013), good at handling the ball, he lacks only increased activity in the distribution of the game, as he might be expected to play Point Guard in the NBA.

- Motivation. What certainly made him stand out to the point of getting a second tryoutd by an NBA team, was his focus, motivation, willpower. Since the confrontation with the Dream Team 1992, the Angolan players saw the gap that separates the U.S. from the rest of the world in terms of basketball diminish considerably. Not because the NBA has become weaker, but because the rest of the world, which grew to admire, idolize and copy American players, gave a giant leap forward when it comes to basketball. Today the NBA has dozens of foreign players from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, France, the Congo, Nigeria, to name a few examples. The inferiority complex is over, and today, any confident and persevering player  can aspire to achieve this dream. Sure, he will still have to meet all requirements. Remain in perfect physical shape,  live according to the precepts of rigor and discipline, serving an exemplary life hygiene worthy of a top-level athlete who wants to continue to progress.

In short, Carlos Morais is part of a generation that has seen little or nothing of what was almost absolute domination of the U.S. in basketball; a generation that learned to play basketball with the And1 Mixtapes, who were dazzled  by Allen Iverson, Jason Williams, Vince Carter and Tracy MacGrady, whose un-academic style of play delight the fans of highlights and spectacular actions. He a combination of the two styles, rigor and showtime, show and effectiveness.

On the outcome of the tryout he was subjected by the Toronto Raptors, we know little or nothing. Only the enigmatic and promising photograph posted on his instagram, which shows what seems to be a player's contract, a card identifying him as a player  of the Toronto Raptors, and the tag: #OneStepCloser. 

Closer to his goal of playing in the best basketball league in the world, against the best players in the world. Closer to grow as a player, and live a unique experience so far for Angolan player; one we hope to see  repeated by many, many others.

"Excellence is never achieved by chance. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution. It represents the wise choice among many alternatives - choice, not chance, determines your destiny. "- Aristotle.