Tiago Splitter Beims (born January 1, 1985) is a Brazilian professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the

Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (N ...

of the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

(NBA). A three-time

All-EuroLeague Team The All-EuroLeague Team is an EuroLeague awards, award for European professional club basketball system, Europe's premier level league, the EuroLeague, that is given to the league's top ten basketball players for each season, since the 2000–01 s ...

selection prior to his NBA career, he became the first Brazilian-born player to win an

NBA championship The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...

, in

2014 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...

, as a member of the

San Antonio Spurs The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...

Early life

Splitter was born in

Blumenau Blumenau () is a city in Vale do Itajaí, Santa Catarina (Brazil), Santa Catarina state, in the South Region, Brazil, South Region of Brazil, from the state capital Florianópolis. The city was founded by the German chemist and pharmacist H ...

, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Professional career

Brazil and Spain (1999–2010)

Splitter began his professional career in 1999. In 2000, he began to play in Spain's top-level league, the

Liga ACB The Liga ACB, known as Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional basketball division of the Spanish basketball league system. Administered by the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto (ACB), Liga ACB is contested by 18 teams, w ...

. In 2004, Splitter became a naturalised citizen of Spain. Splitter was named the

MVP MVP most commonly refers to: * Most valuable player, an award, typically for the best performing player in a sport or competition * Minimum viable product, a concept for feature estimating used in business and engineering MVP may also refer to: ...

of the Spanish Supercup tournament in both 2006 and 2007. He was also named to the All-EuroLeague First Team for the EuroLeague's 2007–08 season, after helping

Saski Baskonia Club Deportivo Saski-Baskonia, Sociedad Anónima Deportiva, S.A.D commonly known as Saski Baskonia () and also simply as Baskonia, is a professional basketball team based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. The team plays in the Liga ACB and the EuroLea ...

make it to the 2008 EuroLeague Final Four. The following year, Splitter reached the EuroLeague 2008–09 season's playoffs, but failed to make another EuroLeague Final Four participation. Nevertheless, his performances earned him a spot on the 2008–09 All-EuroLeague Second Team. Splitter was named the Spanish League MVP in 2010. Splitter was expected to declare for the 2006 NBA draft, but because the expensive buyout of his contract discouraged NBA teams with high draft picks from drafting him, he remained in the Spanish ACB League for that season. Splitter was automatically eligible for the 2007 NBA draft, as he was at least 22 years of age at the time of the draft. He was selected by the

, in the first round of the draft, with the 28th overall draft pick. On May 28, 2008, ESPN Brasil reported that Splitter had re-signed with

, on a two-year contract that would keep him in the Spanish ACB League through the

2009–10 NBA season The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 1,230-game regular season (82 games for each of the 30 teams) began on October 27, 2009, and ended on April 14, 2010. The season ended with the Los Ang ...

. The contract allowed the Brazilian to make 8 times more than the NBA rookie scale salary cap would have allowed him to make with the

at that time. On June 7, 2008, the

San Antonio Express-News The ''San Antonio Express-News'' is a daily newspaper in San Antonio, Texas, founded in 1865. It is owned by the Hearst Corporation and has offices in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. The ''Express-News'' is the third largest newspaper in the sta ...

reported that Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford, had stated that Splitter had informed the team that he would not be coming to San Antonio for the 2008–09 NBA season. Splitter had instead signed an extension with Saski Baskonia, that would keep him in the Spanish ACB League through 2010. It was announced on July 9, 2010, that Splitter had opted out of his contract with Saski Baskonia, in order to sign in the NBA with the

San Antonio Spurs (2010–2015)

On July 12, 2010, Splitter signed a contract with the

. The deal was believed to be worth $11 million over 3 years. He earned his first start of his NBA career on March 19, against the Charlotte Bobcats, in place of the injured Tim Duncan. In this game, Splitter recorded 8 points and 6 rebounds. Splitter bench

On February 8, 2012, Splitter and teammate Kawhi Leonard, were selected to play in the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge. On February 17, it was revealed that both Splitter and Leonard would be teammates for Team

Chuck Chuck () is a masculine given name or a nickname for Charles or Charlie. It may refer to: People Arts and entertainment * Chuck Alaimo, American saxophonist, leader of the Chuck Alaimo Quartet * Chuck Barris (1929–2017), American TV produce ...

. However, due to an injury, he was released from Team Chuck and was replaced by Derrick Favors. On May 29, 2012, in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals,

Oklahoma City Thunder The Oklahoma City Thunder are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City. The Thunder compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (NBA), Northwest Division of the Western Confer ...

head coach Scott Brooks, attempted to slow San Antonio's offense through continual the fouling of Splitter, sending him to the free throw line with the " Hack-a-Shaq" strategy. He played his most productive season with the Spurs in

2012–13 NBA season The 2012–13 NBA season was the 67th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 30, 2012, when the 2011–12 NBA champions Miami Heat started the season by hosting the Boston Celtics. The 2013 NBA A ...

, averaging 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, while playing all but the final game of the regular season. He started 58 games, as the Spurs finished the West in the two-seed, behind the

. The Spurs would advance to the

2013 NBA Finals The 2013 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2012–13 season and conclusion of the season's playoffs, played from June 6 to 20, 2013. In this best-of-seven series, the defending champion and ...

, only to lose to the

Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern C ...

in seven games, as Miami won their second straight NBA championship. On July 13, 2013, he re-signed with the Spurs. On June 15, 2014, Splitter won his first NBA championship, after the Spurs defeated the

, 4 games to 1 in the

2014 NBA Finals The 2014 NBA Finals was the NBA Finals, championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2013–14 NBA season, 2013–14 season and the conclusion of 2014 NBA Playoffs, the season's playoffs, played from June 5 to 15, 2014. It ...

. After missing 20 out of the first 21 games of the 2014–15 season with a back injury, Splitter played out the rest of the season, until missing the final six games of the regular season, with a calf injury. He returned for the playoffs, but the Spurs were knocked out in the first round by the

Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The ...

, in seven games.

Atlanta Hawks (2015–2017)

On July 9, 2015, Splitter was traded to the

Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Easte ...

, in exchange for the draft rights to Georgios Printezis, and a future second-round pick. On February 16, 2016, he was ruled out for the rest of the season, after electing to have surgery to repair his right hip. On October 11, 2016, Splitter was ruled out for four weeks with a grade 2 hamstring strain. He was ruled out for a further six weeks, on November 26, after an

MRI Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to generate pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes inside the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and rad ...

exam revealed a grade 2 right calf strain.

Philadelphia 76ers (2017)

On February 22, 2017, Splitter was traded, along with a second-round draft pick, to the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, also known colloquially as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlan ...

, in exchange for Ersan İlyasova. On March 21, 2017, he was assigned to the Delaware 87ers, the 76ers' D-League affiliate. He was recalled six days later. On March 28, 2017, he made his debut for the 76ers, recording two points and three rebounds, in seven minutes of playing time, in a 106–101 win over the

Brooklyn Nets The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), ...

. Splitter, who had been nursing a right calf injury, entered the game late in the first quarter, and played in his first game since January 31, 2016, when he was a member of the Atlanta Hawks, before undergoing hip surgery. He played a handful of games with a prosthetic hip.

Retirement

On February 19, 2018, Splitter announced his retirement from playing professional basketball, due to a hip injury that had hindered the back-end of his career. On May 5, 2024, Splitter's jersey number 21 was retired by

National team career

As a member of the

Brazil men's national basketball team The Brazil national basketball team is governed by the Brazilian Basketball Confederation (), abbreviated as CBB. They have been a member of the International Federation of Basketball (FIBA), since 1935. Brazil's national basketball team remain ...

, Splitter won gold medals at the 2003 FIBA South American Championship, the

2003 Pan American Games The 2003 Pan American Games, officially the XIV Pan American Games () and commonly known as Santo Domingo 2003, were held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from August 1 to 17, 2003. The successful bid for the Games was made in the mid-1990 ...

, the 2005 FIBA AmeriCup, and the 2009 FIBA AmeriCup. He won a silver medal with Brazil at the 2011 FIBA AmeriCup. Splitter also played for Brazil in the 2002 FIBA World Cup, the 2006 FIBA World Cup, the 2010 FIBA World Cup, the

2012 Summer Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012, were an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...

, and the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

Coaching career

NBA

On April 24, 2018, Splitter was hired by the

, as a pro scout, with added duties related to on-court player development. On September 23, 2019, he was promoted by the Nets to player development coach. Splitter parted ways with the Nets on May 1, 2023. On July 3, 2023, Splitter was hired by the

Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA) ...

as an assistant coach under new head coach Ime Udoka. On June 12, 2025, Splitter was named an assistant coach for the

under head coach Chauncey Billups.

Europe

On July 16, 2024, Splitter was named head coach for Paris Basketball.

National team

In 2021, Splitter was named an assistant coach of the Brazilian national team. In 2022, Splitter was named head coach of the Brazilian U23 national team at the GLOBL Jam Tournament in Toronto, Canada, where the team won the gold medal.

Personal life

Splitter is the son of Cassio and Elisabeth Splitter. He was raised a Christian, although his father is of

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

descent. In 2009, Splitter's sister Michelle, also a basketball player, died of

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia; pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and produce high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or '' ...

, at the age of 19. Splitter married his first wife, Amaia Amescua, in 2010. They have two children and divorced in 2016. In 2017, Splitter married his second wife, Fernanda.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

, - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...

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, 59 , , 2 , , 19.0 , , .618 , , .000 , , .691 , , 5.2 , , 1.1 , , .4 , , .8 , , 9.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 81 , , 58 , , 24.7 , , .560 , , .000 , , .730 , , 6.4 , , 1.6 , , .8 , , .8 , , 10.3 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", † , style="text-align:left;",

, 59 , , 50 , , 21.5 , , .523 , , .000 , , .699 , , 6.2 , , 1.5 , , .5 , , .5 , , 8.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 52 , , 35 , , 19.8 , , .558 , , .000 , , .750 , , 4.8 , , 1.5 , , .7 , , .7 , , 8.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

, 36 , , 2 , , 16.1 , , .523 , , .000 , , .813 , , 3.3 , , .8 , , .6 , , .3 , , 5.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, 8 , , 0 , , 9.5 , , .452 , , .333 , , .818 , , 2.8 , , .5 , , .1 , , .1 , , 4.9 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 355 , , 153 , , 19.2 , , .555 , , .143 , , .697 , , 5.0 , , 1.2 , , .6 , , .6 , , 7.9

Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left;",

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

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, 3 , , 0 , , 16.7 , , .625 , , .000 , , .000 , , 4.7 , , .3 , , 1.0 , , .3 , , 6.7 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

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, 13 , , 0 , , 12.9 , , .638 , , .000 , , .372 , , 2.8 , , .8 , , .4 , , .3 , , 5.8 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...

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, 19 , , 15 , , 20.4 , , .536 , , .000 , , .788 , , 3.1 , , 1.2 , , .8 , , .7 , , 6.1 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;",

† , align="left" ,

, 23 , , 18 , , 22.4 , , .610 , , .000 , , .718 , , 6.1 , , 2.0 , , .7 , , .5 , , 7.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2015 2015 was designated by the United Nations as: * International Year of Light * International Year of Soil __TOC__ Events January * January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 7 , , 7 , , 17.6 , , .375 , , .000 , , .316 , , 4.4 , , 1.3 , , .6 , , .1 , , 3.4 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 65 , , 40 , , 19.1 , , .572 , , .000 , , .586 , , 4.3 , , 1.4 , , .7 , , .5 , , 6.3

EuroLeague

, - , style="text-align:left;", 2003–04 , style="text-align:left;" rowspan="7", Baskonia , 16 , , 1 , , 11.2 , , .619 , , , , .632 , , 2.4 , , .3 , , .4 , , .3 , , 4.0 , , 3.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2004–05 , 19 , , 2 , , 17.8 , , .533 , , , , .487 , , 4.5 , , .9 , , .7 , , .7 , , 7.0 , , 7.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2005–06 , 24 , , 11 , , 21.6 , , .599 , , , , .547 , , 4.6 , , .6 , , 1.3 , , .5 , , 9.5 , , 10.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2006–07 , 20 , , 12 , , 24.7 , , .580 , , , , .529 , , 6.0 , , .8 , , 1.4 , , .3 , , 10.7 , , 13.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2007–08 , style="background:#CFECEC;", 25* , , 13 , , 22.5 , , .618 , , .000 , , .645 , , 5.0 , , 1.1 , , 1.0 , , .8 , , 14.0 , , 16.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2008–09 , 17 , , 12 , , 24.7 , , .655 , , .000 , , .602 , , 5.4 , , 1.6 , , .6 , , 1.6 , , 14.0 , , 17.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2009–10 , 16 , , 14 , , 26.7 , , .535 , , .000 , , .636 , , 5.4 , , 1.8 , , .8 , , .5 , , 13.0 , , 15.8 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan=2, Career , 137 , , 65 , , 21.5 , , .593 , , .000 , , .582 , , 4.8 , , 1.0 , , .9 , , .7 , , 10.5 , , 12.3

References

External links

*
Tiago Splitter
at Euroleague.net *
Tiago Splitter
at ACB.com (archive) * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Splitter, Tiago 1985 births Living people 2002 FIBA World Championship players 2006 FIBA World Championship players 2010 FIBA World Championship players 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup players 21st-century Brazilian sportsmen Atlanta Hawks players Basketball players at the 2003 Pan American Games Basketball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics Bilbao Basket players Brazilian basketball scouts Brazilian emigrants to Spain Brazilian expatriate basketball people in Spain Brazilian expatriate basketball people in the United States Brazilian men's basketball players Brazilian people of German-Jewish descent Brooklyn Nets assistant coaches Brooklyn Nets scouts Centers (basketball) Coaches at the 2024 Summer Olympics Delaware 87ers players Houston Rockets assistant coaches Jewish basketball players Liga ACB players Medalists at the 2003 Pan American Games Men's basketball players Naturalised citizens of Spain NBA players from Brazil Olympic basketball players for Brazil Pan American Games gold medalists for Brazil Pan American Games gold medalists in basketball Philadelphia 76ers players Power forwards San Antonio Spurs draft picks San Antonio Spurs players Saski Baskonia players Spanish people of German-Jewish descent Sportspeople from Joinville Valencia Basket players Portland Trail Blazers assistant coaches Brazilian expatriate basketball people in France Paris Basketball coaches

Early life

Professional career

Brazil and Spain (1999–2010)

San Antonio Spurs (2010–2015)

Atlanta Hawks (2015–2017)

Philadelphia 76ers (2017)

Retirement

National team career

Coaching career

NBA

Europe

National team

Personal life

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

EuroLeague

See also

References

External links