1. Wlamir Marques, known simply as Wlamir, was a Brazilian basketball player and coach who 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.
11 Facts About Wlamir Marques
1. 2.
Wlamir Marques was nicknamed "The Flying Saucer", and "The Blonde Devil".
3.
Wlamir Marques was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991.
4.
The Ginasio Poliesportivo Wlamir Marques arena is named after him, in his honor.
5.
Wlamir Marques won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup's 1965 Test Cup championship, a game in which he scored 51 points.
6.
Wlamir 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.
7.
Wlamir Marques was the MVP of the 1963 FIBA World Championship.
8.
Wlamir Marques won silver medals at the 1954 FIBA World Championship and 1970 FIBA World Championship.
9.
Wlamir Marques 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.
10.
Wlamir Marques 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.
11.
Wlamir Marques died at Santa Magiore Hospital in Sao Paulo, on 18 March 2025, at the age of 87.