Tavares, the MVP who "knew nothing about basketball" and who changed Real Madrid's game

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Just over four years ago,

was involved in one of those endeavors that dilutes so many careers, that of the NBA.

That winter that changed his destiny forever, he was in Toronto, enrolled in his development team (Raptors 905), months after being cut by the Cavaliers with whom he barely played a game (plus 11 in the entire previous season in Atlanta).

Then,

injured his shoulder and Real Madrid, who had already lost

, accelerated an operation that was going to mark the future of

and that in recent weeks has culminated in the African's historic dominance in the Endesa League playoffs.

The giant was an appetizing bet, but it was neither easy nor cheap.

And it carried risks.

In the first place, he had a hard time convincing Edy to give up his dream of succeeding in the NBA.

In addition, the competition for the signing of a player trained in Spain and therefore a national quota, was great.

Barça itself had its networks on him.

But what made me doubt the most was the ability he would have to succeed in a style, that of the dizzying game of Laso's early days -he didn't seem exactly made for centers-, which didn't fully adapt to the characteristics of a guy with 221 centimeters.

The truth is that Tavares was going to change everything until everything revolved around him.

Edy's season has pushed all limits of physical and mental endurance.

Especially taking into account that he landed with little rest, from the Afrobasket that he wanted to play for his own desire with the Cape Verde team -this summer he will repeat-, such is the link with his native country, which he boasts flag in hand in each celebration.

In a not very recommendable effort, he took the humble team to the semifinals and in a few days he was planted in the Supercopa.

With hardly any physical mishaps -just the contagion by covid in January-, he has resisted blows and scratches to play 80 games this year, with 22 minutes on average: only

He surpasses him in Madrid.

His obsession with rest and physical care - a couple of years ago he changed his diet - has paid off for him.

His pre-match warm-up routines are exhausting.

SERGIO PEREZEFE

Because if Tavares was already chosen in the best quintet in the Euroleague, it has been the playoffs where his influence has multiplied exponentially.

The center has averaged 13.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and a PIR of 20 in the series for the title, culminating in the decisive match against Barça: only

(Caja San Fernando) in the second game of the final of 1996 and

(TDK Manresa) in the first of the 1998 final had shown statistically superior performances in such summits.

Although if there is a fact that speaks of what Tavares changes the games, it is the +/-.

With him on the pitch for the nine games he has played in the current playoffs, Real Madrid have beaten their rivals by a difference of 137 points.

"My first job is to help my teammates in defense. In attack, whatever they give me or give me, I'm welcome," declared with his usual humility as soon as the guy who scored 25 points (the second score of his career), 13 rebounds and seven of seven free throws.

And against a Barça that not so long ago seemed to have, with

, an antidote against him.

Samuel

They confirm from their surroundings the calm character of Edy, a guy devoted to basketball and his family.

No tattoos or promises.

He faces life as if it were a gift since he was discovered by a photo in which he was taller than the door of his house.

A few years ago, in an interview in this newspaper, he commented on the whims of fate: "Perhaps I would be at my mother's house, helping her with a small store she had. Or sitting under a tree doing nothing. I stopped studying to help her, because the poor thing was so tired that she couldn't stand 12 hours standing in the store. Then the opportunity arose to come to Spain and I went with everything. I didn't care. I didn't know how to play, I didn't know anything about basketball, but I knew I had to taking advantage of the opportunity".

It was soon found that Maio's diamond, who barely knew how to bounce the ball when he arrived in Gran Canaria in 2009, had so many possibilities that he just had to adapt to it.

Edy, from those training sessions in which he could barely stand up, has not stopped evolving.

At 30 years old, he has won the first MVP of his career because he knew how to amplify his threats.

"I have trained a lot, my goal was to improve in attack," he confessed with his child Samuel in his arms.

That, the personal is the other support of the giant.

A year ago her first child was born, the result of her marriage to

, her number one fan, a regular on the WiZink stands and a fierce defender of her husband's social networks.

In Madrid he found a life plan -he renewed for five years in 2019-, with one of the highest salaries in the squad, and always with his eyes set on his small island where, when he was a child, there were no baskets.

There he will travel in a few days, where Samuel will be able to meet uncles and grandparents.

And where the other efforts of his father are focused with the Foundation with which he tries to help his compatriots.

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