by Jim SLATER
OAKLAND, United States (AFP) — Brazilian center Anderson Varejao, the first man to play for both NBA Finals teams in the same season, could give Golden State an inside scoop on his former Cleveland teammates.
The 33-year-old South American, who spent 11 1/2 seasons with the Cavaliers before joining Golden State in February, might also wind up with a championship ring no matter which club wins the best-of-seven championship series that begins Thursday.
“We all know how important Cleveland is for me and what Cleveland did for me,” Varejao said. “But right now, I’m a Warrior and I have to focus on helping them win a championship.”
Varejao has averaged 7.4 points and 7.3 rebounds a game since his NBA career began with the Cavaliers in 2004. He missed the team’s playoff run to the Final last season after tearing an Achilles tendon in December.
This season, he was a reserve to Russian Timofey Mozgov before being traded to Portland last February. The Trail Blazers waived him and he was picked up by Golden State.
Now, Varejao can serve as an inside force on the court and provide inside secrets about the Cavaliers, although Cleveland star LeBron James dismissed the idea.
“We’re a totally different team than when he left,” James said.
Varejao was only around for a month after David Blatt was fired as coach and Tyronn Lue replaced him.
“I’m pretty sure he has some things that he knows we do well that we can try to take away,” Lue said. “He’s a smart player so he knows what hurts our team, but we’re a different team now than we were then. So hopefully he doesn’t know too much.”
Varejao has never played against the Cavaliers before and his return to Cleveland for game three of the finals next Wednesday promises to be an emotional one.
“I’m pretty sure a lot of emotions are going to go through my head and my body when I go back to Cleveland,” Varejao said.
He could win his first championship ring if the Warriors win, and even if they lose, because he spent enough time this season on the Cavaliers roster to be eligible for a ring, if they win it all and decide to give him one.
“We’re trying to win this series,” Varejao said. “I’m a Warrior. That’s what I want to focus on now.”
James says it’s not for him to debate the merits of Varejao getting a ring if the Cavaliers win, but he admires his long-time Cleveland teammate even in a rival uniform.
“Good things happen to good people,” James said. “Either way he would have been part of the finals. He has done so much in his career. He has sacrificed a lot. For him to be in this position I think is great for him.”
Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson will likely go against Varejao at times.
“We’re not used to it, only in practice, but now he’s on a different team,” Thompson said. “I’m happy for Andy. He’s done a great job to get himself back to where he needs to get and being healthy.”
And the Cavaliers have not forgotten the role Varejao played for more than a decade in building the Cavaliers into champions.
“He was a big part of what we’ve done over the last couple years,” Lue said. “Everyone on our side has a great deal of respect for Andy. And just for him to get back to the finals again with a different team is going to be different for everyone.”
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