Edy Tavares

Walter Samuel "Edy" Tavares da Veiga (born 22 March 1992) is a Cape Verdean professional basketball player for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague.

After being scouted in his hometown, Tavares started playing for Gran Canaria in 2009.

He did not play any basketball until he was 17 years old, and his talent was discovered by a German tourist who was on vacation in Cape Verde in 2009.

The tourist set up a meeting between Tavares and his friend, Raúl Rodriguez, who was a Spanish director of the CB Gran Canaria youth academy.

After Rodriguez received a photo that showed Tavares' size, they later met in Praia.

There, he had his first training; at the time, Tavares was 7ft 1in.

He started playing at the Gran Canaria youth academy, where a second under-18 team was created to accommodate Tavares.

From 2009 to 2011, Tavares played for CB Gran Canaria's junior team in the Liga EBA.

In 2011, he was loaned to UB La Palma of the LEB Oro for the 2011–12 season.

He also played three games for La Palma in 2012–13 as well.

In 2012, he returned to Gran Canaria and made his Liga ACB debut on 6 January 2013.

In April 2013, Tavares declared for the 2013 NBA draft but later withdrew his name and returned to Gran Canaria for the 2013–14 season.

He was selected with the 43rd overall pick in 2014 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks and has played internationally for the Cape Verde national basketball team.

Tavares receives praise as a physical phenomenon, standing 7ft 3in tall and possessing a 7ft 9in wingspan.

He was drafted in the 2014 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks where he played one season.

On 19 June 2014, Tavares re-signed with Gran Canaria on a three-year deal, while still remaining eligible for the 2014 NBA draft.

On 26 June 2014, Tavares was selected with the 43rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks, becoming the first Cape Verdean-born player to be drafted in the NBA.

On 26 August 2014, it was announced Tavares would return to Gran Canaria for the 2014–15 season.

During their 2014–15 season, Tavares earned All-EuroCup First Team honors.

On 6 July 2015, Tavares joined the Atlanta Hawks for the 2015 NBA Summer League.

Three days later, he signed a multi-year deal with the Hawks.

He made his debut for the Hawks on 29 October recording one point and one rebound in a 112–101 win over the New York Knicks.

During his rookie season, using the flexible assignment rule, Tavares received multiple assignments to the Austin Spurs, Canton Charge and Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.

On 31 October 2016, he was waived by the Hawks after appearing in one game for the team in the 2016–17 season.

On 12 November 2016, Tavares was acquired by Raptors 905 of the NBA Development League.

In 2017, Tavares signed with Real Madrid where he became a star player, winning two EuroLeague titles and three All-EuroLeague Team selections, as well as several domestic accolades.

Tavares is the EuroLeague's all-time leader in blocks.

Tavares guided the Cape Verdean national team to their first-ever World Cup in 2023, and has played at AfroBasket in 2013 and 2021.

Tavares was born in Cape Verde on the island of Maio.

His father was also tall, at 6ft 8in, and worked on shipping vessels which caused him to be away for long periods of time.

Tavares worked as a cashier in his grandmother's shop after school and played beach football as a hobby.

On February 6, 2017, he was named in the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the 2017 NBA D-League All-Star Game.

At the season's end, he was named the recipient of the NBA Development League Defensive Player of the Year Award.

On 12 April 2017, Tavares signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He made his debut for the Cavaliers that night, recording 10 rebounds and 6 blocks in a 99–83 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Tavares did not play at all in the 2017 playoffs due to a hand injury.

On 11 October 2017, Tavares was waived by the Cavaliers.

Shortly after getting waived by the Cavaliers, Tavares returned to Raptors 905, ultimately playing only one regular season game for them, scoring 13 points, with 10 rebounds and 3 blocks vs. the Grand Rapids Drive on 5 November 2017.

On 10 November 2017, Tavares signed with Real Madrid until the end of the 2019–20 season.

In May 2018, Real Madrid won the 2017–18 EuroLeague championship, after defeating Fenerbahçe in the final game with 85–80.