Toronto Raptors small forward Bruno Caboclo made a lot of headlines following Brazil’s Fiba AmeriCup match on Saturday for refusing to re-enter the game, despite being asked by head coach Cesar Guidetti. He has since been dismissed from his country’s national team, according to Basquete 360's Colin Foster, and his future participation now hangs in the balance.
The 21-year-old was apparently not pleased with the team’s rotation and wanted more playing time. He was substituted nine minutes into the match versus Mexico, but did not appreciate the decision. He then took to his Instagram account to explain his side, and also apologized to the Brazil Basketball Federation, while adding that he will accept the consequences that will be handed to him.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYTWXZXndpt/
Caboclo was the 20th overall pick in the 2014 draft, and was considered a long-term project for the Raptors. He was only 18 years old at that time, and has since bounced between the G-League and the Raptors' lineup, where he has appeared in a total of 23 games. He also played for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and the Raptors 905, where he has been receiving additional workouts in order to prepare him for the future.
It remains to be seen if Caboclo will be completely removed from the Brazilian team in this year’s AmeriCup and in other international competitions in the years to come. It can be considered a dent to his career, as it shows that he has some concerns off the court as well, which could also dampen his chances of becoming a fixture in the Raptors' roster.
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