By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Sidelined from the top of the 2025-26 season, Bruno Caboclo will miss several more months after back surgery.
On the injury list alongside Yam Madar, the 30-year-old Brazilian forward/center has yet to play in the new EuroLeague Regular Season with Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv. A necessary operation further delays his return to action.
Caboclo joined the Reds before the 2024-25 season. In the first year, he was crowned BKT EuroCup champion with the team coached by Dimitris Itoudis punching in a ticket to the next edition of Europe’s premier club continental competition. Over 23 appearances, including three starts, he averaged 7.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, 0.7 steals, and 0.7 assists per contest.
With the senior national team of Brazil in the FIBA AmeriCup 2025, he captured a gold medal and earned a spot on the All-Star Five behind 14.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game over six appearances. After returning to the Israeli club, he picked up the injury and was forced to the sidelines.
Back in the 2023-24 journey, Caboclo introduced himself to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with Partizan Mozzart Bet. Earlier in his career, between 2014 and 2021, he made his way to 107 NBA games, spread between the Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, and Sacramento Kings, after being drafted by the Raptors with the 20th overall selection in 2014.
At 2-0 to start the maiden EuroLeague campaign, Hapoel faces fellow Israeli outfit, Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv, in Arena 8888 Sofia on Wednesday.