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Oscar da Silva, FC Barcelona: 'Fortunately, I stuck around basketball'

Oscar da Silva, FC Barcelona: 'Fortunately, I stuck around basketball'

Interviews

18 April 20235 Mins read

Geoff Gillingham

Oscar da Silva, FC Barcelona: 'Fortunately, I stuck around basketball'

First-year FC Barcelona forward Oscar da Silva is going to get his first taste of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs when the Spanish side takes on Zalgiris Kaunas in a best-of-five series, and the German-born forward has his Brazilian father to thank for his love of basketball.

Da Silva, who was born in Munich to a Brazilian father and a German mother, sat down with Euroleague Basketball to discuss growing up in a dual nationality household, his favorite parts about Brazil and Germany, as well as which nation he would choose to represent if given the opportunity. But, as he explains, without his father's influence, he may not have ever gone on to become a professional basketball player.

"I'm still trying to establish myself here, and then we'll see where the journey goes."

Oscar da SilvaFC Barcelona player

"Yeah, he sort of just took me to a practice," Da Silva explains. "I did play soccer for a few years when I was younger, but I quit that and then he wanted me to not just sit around the house. He ended up taking me to a basketball practice when I must have been 8 or 9, I think, and fortunately, I stuck around."

It has become increasingly common over the last few decades for children to grow up in a dual-nationality household and Da Silva is no different. He may have spent his entire childhood in Germany, but the 24-year-old still appreciates his Brazilian side, particularly some of the benefits that came with it, such as being able to go there on vacation.

"I think I feel a bit stronger ties to Germany, just because that's home for me – I've never lived in Brazil," he states. "But, obviously, my father being from there means a great deal to me and I've been to the country and I have a lot of family there still, so I definitely embrace that side as well.

"I've been four or five times, I think, in the summers. Back when we were younger, we would usually go [to Brazil] as a family to go and visit the family, go and take different trips to the beach and whatnot, so it was always a good vacation."

That said, for Da Silva, there are few things like being back in his home of Munich, Germany. He still has strong ties to the city and always relishes any chance to return.

"For me, because it's my home, where I grew up, I think it's the social aspect [that I like most about Germany]," he explains. "[I've got] friends and family that are there, me speaking the language, getting around everywhere, and especially in Munich – it's such a unique and great city. I always love to spend time there."

But, Da Silva's basketball journey has brought him to Barcelona. Now in his second season in the EuroLeague, having spent his rookie campaign with ALBA Berlin in his native Germany, Da Silva is looking to make his name in the competition while representing one of the league's powerhouse clubs.

"Right now, obviously I'm in a great situation here. The EuroLeague, outside the NBA, is definitely the highest level that you can play at," he comments. "I'm still trying to establish myself here, and then we'll see where the journey goes from there."

"[Germany is] a country that's to be reckoned with in terms of basketball."

Oscar da SilvaFC Barcelona player

As a player who has the option of representing Germany or Brazil at the international level – and having suited up for Germany's Under 18s and 19s earlier in his career – the Stanford University graduate is clear that he would relish any opportunity to play for Die Mannschaft at senior level.

"I think still Germany [would be my pick]," Da Silva says. "Like I said, I think I feel I have a little bit stronger ties there and as they have just shown in the most recent EuroBasket, they're a country that's to be reckoned with in terms of basketball. It's up and coming and I think we celebrated a lot of… the sport of basketball this summer. I think people got a lot more into it."

Da Silva has had to make do with a reserve role at Barca this season, coming off the bench in all 27 of his appearances, but he is a player with big ambitions whom fans in the EuroLeague and Germany alike should be keeping a close eye on.