Wlamir Marques

He is considered to be one of the best Brazilian basketball players of all time, and to have been one of the best players in the world during the 1960s. Alongside fellow countrymen Amaury Pasos, Algodão, and Rosa Branca, he led the best basketball generation Brazil ever had. At a height of 1.85 m (6'1") tall, he played at the small forward position. He was nicknamed "The Flying Saucer", and "The Blonde Devil".

Wlamir Marques

Personal information
Born	(1936-07-16) July 16, 1936 (age 87) São Vicente, Brazil
Nationality	Brazilian
Listed height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Listed weight	86 kg (190 lb)
Career information
NBA draft	1959: undrafted
Playing career	1953–1973
Position	Small forward
Number	5
Coaching career	1961–1988
Career history
As player:
1953–1954	Clube de Regatas Piracicaba
1955–1961	XV de Novembro
1962–1972	S.C. Corinthians Paulista
1973	Tênis Clube de Campinas
As coach:
1961	Limeira
1963–1964	S.C. Corinthians Paulista women
1968	XV de Novembro women
1970–1971	S.C. Corinthians Paulista
1975	Palmeiras
1977	Hebraica
1981–1982	São Caetano women
1987–1988	Cerquilho
Career highlights and awards
As a player: FIBA's 50 Greatest Players (1991) FIBA World Cup MVP (1963) FIBA Intercontinental Test Cup champion (1965) Best Athlete of South America (1961) 2× South American Club Champion (1964, 1969) 3× Brazilian Champion (1965, 1966, 1969) 7× São Paulo State Champion (1957, 1960, 1964–1966, 1968, 1969) No. 5 retired by S.C. Corinthians Paulista (2018)
Medals Men's Basketball Representing  Brazil Summer Olympics 1960 Rome Team 1964 Tokyo Team World Cup 1959 Chile Team 1963 Brazil Team 1954 Brazil Team 1970 Yugoslavia Team Pan American Games 1963 São Paulo Team 1955 Mexico City Team 1959 Chicago Team FIBA South American Championship 1958 Chile Team 1960 Argentina Team 1961 Brazil Team 1963 Peru Team 1955 Colombia Team

Along with Kresimir Cosic, Marques is one of the top two medalists in FIBA World Cup history, having won 2 gold medals and 2 silver medals. He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991. The Ginásio Poliesportivo Wlamir Marques arena is named after him, in his honor.

At the club level, Marques played as a junior with São Vicente, and at the senior level with XV de Novembro, S.C. Corinthians, and Tênis Clube Campinas. He won the Brazilian League in 1965, 1966, and 1969, with S.C. Corinthians. He won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup's 1965 Test Cup championship, a game in which he scored 51 points.

Marques played for the senior men's Brazilian national team, and with them he won the 1959 FIBA World Championship and the 1963 FIBA World Championship gold medals. He was the MVP of the 1963 FIBA World Championship. He also won silver medals at the 1954 FIBA World Championship and 1970 FIBA World Championship.

He won bronze medals at the 1960 Summer Olympic Games and the 1964 Summer Olympic Games, a silver medal at the 1963 Pan American Games, and bronze medals at the 1955 Pan American Games and 1959 Pan American Games.

After his basketball playing career ended, Marques worked as a head basketball coach. He then worked as a sports commentator for basketball games on ESPN Brasil, and has been an active personality on the show called, "Brazilian Basketball Reborn", working as an important voice on TV and internet channels.