Walter Tavares perfectly represents the golden era of Real Madrid, under the guidance of coaches like Pablo Laso and Chus Mateo. Since his arrival in 2017, after Real Madrid made an irresistible offer following an initial agreement with Barça, Tavares has become the most dominant interior player in the continent. His impressive record includes four Endesa League titles, two Euroleague championships, and two King’s Cup wins in the ‘White House’.
Early Beginnings
Tavares’ journey to success began in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where he started playing basketball at the age of 17. After a successful trial, he signed with Gran Canaria, and the rest is history. Now, he is set to return to the island for the Cup, a dream comeback that holds a special significance for him.
A Golden Opportunity
The upcoming Cup tournament presents Tavares with an opportunity to make amends for his previous performance in the Gran Canaria Arena, where he had a disappointing outing in the controversial final against Barça. This time, he has the chance to claim the MVP award, which has eluded him so far, with Facundo Campazzo winning it in the last two white titles.
As the most dominant ‘five’ in the competition, Tavares will be closely watched by rival teams, who will try to neutralize him with players like Matt Costello from Valencia Basket, known for his exterior shot, or Yankuba Sima from Unicaja. The challenge will be significant, but Tavares remains confident, saying, “Returning to the island is always important, and hopefully, we can lift the cup, which would be something incredible to me.”
The stage is set for the Tavares Cup, with the pivot being the player everyone fears. As he prepares to face Baxi Manresa in the first test, all eyes will be on him, and his performance will be crucial in determining the outcome of the tournament.