Wayne Brabender

Wayne Donald Brabender Cole (born October 16, 1945) is a retired American-Spanish basketball player and coach, who acquired Spanish citizenship on May 22, 1968. At a height of 6'4" (1.93 m), he could play at either the shooting guard or small forward positions. He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991. On February 3, 2008, Brabender was chosen as one of the 50 most influential personalities to European professional club basketball, over the previous half-century, by the EuroLeague Basketball Experts Committee.

College career
Born in Montevideo, Minnesota, Brabender played college basketball at the University of Minnesota Morris.

Club playing career
Brabender was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 14th round (145th overall) of the 1967 NBA Draft, though he never played in the NBA. Brabender came to Spain in order to gain experience, and he ended up contributing to four EuroLeague titles won by Real Madrid in 1968, 1974, 1978, and 1980. With Real Madrid, he also won 13 Spanish League championships, 7 Spanish Cups, and 4 Intercontinental Cups.

National team playing career
Brabender played for the senior men's Spain national basketball team, and he won the silver medal at the EuroBasket 1973, where he was also named the MVP of the tournament. He also played at the EuroBasket 1971, the 1972 Summer Olympic Games, the 1974 FIBA World Championship, EuroBasket 1975, the 1975 Mediterranean Games, EuroBasket 1977, EuroBasket 1979, the 1980 Summer Olympic Games, EuroBasket 1981, and the 1982 FIBA World Championship.

References

External links 
Euroleague.net Profile
LeyendasBaloncestoRealMadrid.es 

Category:1945 births
Category:Living people
Category:American emigrants to Spain
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Category:Basketball players at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Category:Basketball players from Minnesota
Category:Junior college men's basketball players in the United States
Category:Liga ACB players
Category:Minnesota–Morris Cougars men's basketball players
Category:Olympic basketball players of Spain
Category:People from Montevideo, Minnesota
Category:Philadelphia 76ers draft picks
Category:Real Madrid Baloncesto players
Category:Real Madrid basketball coaches
Category:Shooting guards
Category:Small forwards
Category:Spanish basketball coaches
Category:Spanish men's basketball players