BIO: Didi Louzada was born in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim (Brazil) in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. The first sport he played was futsal, but he decided to focus on basketball when he was 10 years old.

Silva saw immediate success playing basketball for his school and joined the Liga Urbana Social de Basquete (LUSB) at age seven.

He moved to NBB club Franca in January 2015 and initially played for the under-16 team.

After one season, Silva competed in the Liga de Desenvolvimento de Basquete (LDB), a under-22 league, and led his team to a championship.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Didi Louzada made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 20 years of age. He scored eight points in his first game.

After finishing third with an 18-10 record before being swept by Melbourne in the semifinals, Sydney moved on from Andrew Gaze and signed Australian Boomers assistant Will Weaver as head coach. Melbourne declined the optional third year of Craig Moller’s contract, allowing Moller (via Melbourne) to return on a two-year deal, while Kevin Lisch was re-signed to a multi-year contract. Jerome Randle (to Adelaide) and David Wear (not re-signed) were replaced by Casper Ware (via Melbourne) and Jae’Sean Tate (via Antwerp), with Weaver also adding Shaun Bruce (via Adelaide) and Lucas Walker (via Cairns). The Kings also acquired Brazilian guard Didi (via Franca) through the NBL’s Next Stars program after he was selected with pick 35 in the 2019 NBA Draft by Atlanta, with his rights subsequently traded to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Brazilian signed with Sydney on July 5 under a change to the Next Stars rules which allowed players selected in the immediately preceding NBA Draft to join the program rather than occupy one of the Kings’ import positions. He became the first South American signed through the Next Stars program and arrived in Sydney after representing Brazil at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China. He said, “I have a dream to play in the NBA one day.”

Back tightness prevented Didi from playing in Sydney’s first two games, with Weaver unwilling to rush him back despite the guard returning to training. “It’s just some back tightness… there’s no need to rush him into anything,” Weaver said.

Louzada (8 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) made his NBL debut against New Zealand at Qudos Bank Arena on October 18, starting as Sydney defeated the Breakers 96-91 and improved to 3-0 with Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon watching courtside. Ware (27 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Newley (17 points and 4 rebounds) led Sydney, while Scotty Hopson (27 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) was New Zealand’s best.

Louzada (9.9 points and 3.6 rebounds across 25 games) established himself as Sydney’s starting wing and started his first 15 appearances, providing athleticism, perimeter shooting and defence alongside the Kings’ experienced core. Part of his development in Australia also involved learning English, while Weaver regularly spent additional time working on his shooting, with Louzada on one occasion so reluctant to finish an extra session that Weaver had to tell him to leave the court.

Louzada produced 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists against Adelaide at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on November 2 as Sydney survived a 98-96 overtime victory and improved to 6-0. Bogut (18 points and 12 rebounds) and Tate (16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) helped Sydney remain unbeaten, while Jerome Randle (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Adelaide in front of a then-record 8,252 fans at the venue.

Louzada’s best scoring game came against defending champion Perth at Qudos Bank Arena on November 10, where he made seven three-pointers and finished with 28 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals as Sydney defeated the Wildcats 104-85 in a top-of-the-table clash. Louzada made three three-pointers and scored 11 points as the Kings opened the third quarter with a 21-3 run to break the game open, with Ware (23 points and 3 assists) and Newley (13 points and 5 rebounds) providing support, while Bryce Cotton (36 points) led Perth as Sydney improved to 8-1 and maintained first place.

DIDI did a bit of everything in Q1?@Didi #PERatSYD #NBL20

Live on @SBSVICELAND + @SBSOnDemand pic.twitter.com/fdfgjkr6AN

— The NBL (@NBL) November 10, 2019

With Sydney sitting at 10-1, Xavier Cooks (via Würzburg) signed a multi-year deal with the Kings on November 27, with Kuany Kuany (waived) making way on the roster. Cooks (6.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 19 games) gave Sydney another versatile frontcourt option for the remainder of the season.

A calf injury late in December was initially expected to sideline Didi for two to three weeks and caused him to miss three games before returning in January, when he moved to a role off the bench.

Louzada produced his second-highest scoring game of the season against South East Melbourne at Qudos Bank Arena on January 19, coming off the bench for 18 points in 17 minutes as Sydney defeated the Phoenix 98-81. Newley (17 points and 4 rebounds) and Ware (14 points and 6 assists) provided support, while John Roberson (27 points and 4 assists) led South East Melbourne as Sydney collected its 16th win and remained clear on top of the ladder.

Against Melbourne on January 26, Louzada (11 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal) made all four of his shots, including all three attempts from beyond the arc, before leaving after 12 minutes with a slight knee strain and being rested during the second half as a precaution. Ware (26 points and 5 assists) and Tate (22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks) led Sydney to a 106-88 victory, while Melo Trimble (26 points and 5 rebounds) led Melbourne. The knee problem kept Didi out of Sydney’s final three games of the regular season.

The back, calf and knee problems accounted for all eight regular-season games Didi missed, but he recovered from the knee injury in time for the playoffs and appeared in every game of Sydney’s postseason run.

Sydney’s injury problems extended beyond Didi. Lisch (8 points across 12 games) fractured his left ankle in Round 2 and was initially ruled out for two months, leading Sydney to sign Deshon Taylor (via Adelaide) as an injury replacement. Taylor (6.6 points across 22 games) provided additional backcourt depth, while Lisch returned for two games in December before recurring ankle soreness forced him back out until February. Moller (6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds across 17 games) played Sydney’s first 11 games before a right ankle injury required surgery and forced him to miss the next 16, returning for the final game of the regular season.

Ware (18.2 points and 3.7 assists across 33 games) led Sydney in scoring, with Tate (17 points and 5.7 rebounds across 33 games) and Newley (11.7 points and 4.5 rebounds across 33 games) providing further scoring on the perimeter. Bogut (8.2 points and 8.7 rebounds across 30 games) continued to anchor the defence, while Kickert (7.9 points across 33 games) and Bruce (7 points and 3.1 assists across 33 games) rounded out a deep rotation. Tate was named to the All-NBL First Team and won Sydney’s club MVP, while Ware and Bogut were selected to the All-NBL Second Team. Sydney finished first with a 20-8 record after sitting on top of the ladder from the opening round through to the end of the regular season.

Returning from his knee injury for game one of the semifinals against Melbourne at Qudos Bank Arena, Louzada (8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists) hit two important three-pointers during Sydney’s late comeback, including a three with less than a minute remaining that gave the Kings their first lead since the second quarter as Sydney recovered from 16 points down inside the final seven minutes to win 86-80. Tate (23 points and 5 rebounds) and Newley (17 points and 5 rebounds) led Sydney, while Trimble (34 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Shawn Long (23 points and 10 rebounds) were Melbourne’s best. New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin was in attendance after spending the week with Sydney and watched Louzada make both of his late three-pointers.

Game two moved to Melbourne Arena, where Louzada (10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals) was one of four Kings to reach double figures as United responded with a 125-80 victory. Tate (18 points and 6 rebounds), Ware (10 points and 2 assists) and Walker (10 points) were Sydney’s other double-figure scorers, while Long (26 points and 11 rebounds), Trimble (21 points) and Stanton Kidd (18 points and 4 rebounds) powered Melbourne and forced a deciding game three.

Game three returned to Qudos Bank Arena, where Louzada (10 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) made two three-pointers, including one in the fourth quarter as Sydney defeated Melbourne 89-87 and advanced to its first Grand Final since 2008. Tate (20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) and Ware (15 points and 4 rebounds) led Sydney, while Chris Goulding (19 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Mitch McCarron (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks) were Melbourne’s best.

Sydney opened the Grand Final against defending champion Perth at Qudos Bank Arena on March 8, where Louzada (9 points and 1 rebound) came off the bench as the Wildcats escaped with an 88-86 victory. Bogut (18 points and 12 rebounds) and Lisch (17 points) led Sydney, while Cotton (32 points) and Nick Kay (14 points) led Perth.

With the remainder of the series closed to the general public because of the growing COVID-19 outbreak, game two moved to RAC Arena on March 13, where Louzada (5 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) helped Sydney respond with a 97-83 victory. Tate (20 points), Bogut (19 points and 14 rebounds) and Lisch (19 points) led the Kings, while Cotton (27 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Kay (17 points and 7 rebounds) were Perth’s best as Sydney levelled the series 1-1.

Game three returned to Qudos Bank Arena on March 15, where Louzada (9 points and 5 rebounds) and Sydney fell 111-96 as Perth moved ahead 2-1. Tate (20 points and 6 rebounds) and Newley (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal) led the Kings, while Cotton (31 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Kay (30 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) combined for 61 points for Perth.

Prior to game four, Sydney withdrew from the series amid the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, with concerns surrounding player welfare, air travel and international players being able to return home. The NBL cancelled the remaining games before awarding Perth the championship with its 2-1 series lead, while Cotton was named Grand Final MVP after averaging 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists across the three games.

2020/21
Sydney faced significant roster turnover after finishing runners-up to Perth in the COVID-induced conclusion to the 2020 Grand Final. All-NBL First Team forward Jae’Sean Tate (to Houston) and head coach Will Weaver (to Houston) both departed for the NBA, while Kevin Lisch, Andrew Bogut and Lucas Walker retired. Kings assistant Adam Forde took over as head coach and added Jarell Martin, Angus Glover (via Illawarra) and rookie Dejan Vasiljevic (via Miami University). During the preseason, Sydney lost Xavier Cooks to a foot injury expected to sideline him for three to four months and signed Tom Vodanovich (via New Zealand) as an injury replacement just before the opening game.

Sydney opened the season against Cairns at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena on January 16, where Louzada (7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) started and played almost 26 minutes, but the Taipans escaped with an 87-86 victory. Ware (18 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Vasiljevic (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) led Sydney, while Scott Machado (17 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal) was Cairns’ best.

Louzada (8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds across 20 games) had returned to Sydney for a second season as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program, with his NBA rights held by New Orleans after being selected with pick 35 in the 2019 NBA Draft and subsequently traded from Atlanta to the Pelicans. Louzada had helped Sydney finish first and reach the Grand Final during his rookie season, and despite returning to the Kings for NBL21, the possibility remained that New Orleans could bring him to the NBA during the season.

A back injury kept Louzada out of Sydney’s second game of the season before he returned against Brisbane at Nissan Arena on January 26. Louzada (6 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) played 16 minutes before suffering an ankle sprain four minutes into the third quarter and was unable to finish as Brisbane defeated Sydney 90-87. Martin (26 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) and Ware (15 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal) led the Kings, while Vic Law (27 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 blocks) was Brisbane’s best. Sydney initially expected Louzada to miss four weeks, but he missed the next three games before returning against Illawarra on February 14. Louzada later dealt with further lower-leg and ankle knocks during March but did not miss another game through injury before leaving the Kings.

Sydney’s injury problems extended well beyond Louzada, with Glover (3.5 points and 3 rebounds across 2 games) suffering a partial ACL sprain in his right knee during Round 2 and missing the remainder of the season. Dexter Kernich-Drew (via South East Melbourne) (0.9 points across 8 games) was signed as an injury replacement in February, while Martin also missed time with a knee injury. COVID-related travel restrictions eventually saw the league relocate to Melbourne for the NBL Cup, where Sydney went 4-4 before consecutive home victories pushed the Kings into the top four by Round 12.

Louzada’s best scoring game came against South East Melbourne at Qudos Bank Arena on April 15, where he made eight of 11 shots and six of seven three-pointers to finish with 28 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block as Sydney defeated the Phoenix 97-90. With Martin unavailable through knee soreness and Vasiljevic already ruled out for the season after rupturing his Achilles, Louzada scored 16 points during the first half as Sydney recovered from a seven-point second-quarter deficit and snapped a two-game losing streak. Newley (17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals) and Kickert (17 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) provided the main support, while Izayah Le’Afa (29 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals) led South East Melbourne.

Two nights later, Louzada (11 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists) played what would become his final NBL game as Sydney defeated Cairns 89-84 at Qudos Bank Arena. Ware (40 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) produced a career-high scoring performance and Vodanovich (9 points and 5 rebounds) provided support, while Cameron Oliver (27 points, 19 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) led Cairns.

On April 19, Sydney granted Louzada permission to leave the Kings (to New Orleans) and travel to the United States as he prepared to join the Pelicans, ending his NBL21 season after 20 appearances. “I’m thankful to everyone who has helped me here in Sydney since I arrived last year – the players, the staff, the organisation, everyone. I’m happy but I’m a little bit emotional, I’m proud of what I’ve been able to achieve here, and I’m proud of this team,” Louzada said. Louzada also described joining Sydney as “the best choice of my life” and credited the NBL with helping prepare him for the NBA.
Didi Louzada highlights.

With Louzada gone and Vasiljevic (15.4 points and 3.6 rebounds across 21 games) sidelined by his ruptured Achilles, Sydney added Jarrad Weeks (via New Zealand) (3.2 points across 26 games) as an injury replacement for Glover and to provide additional backcourt depth. Cooks (10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds across 8 games) finally returned from his preseason foot injury in May and helped Sydney remain in the playoff race during the final month of the season.

Martin (17.9 points and 7 rebounds across 28 games) narrowly led Sydney in scoring, while Ware (17.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists across 36 games) remained the team’s primary perimeter scorer. Hunter (9 points and 6.3 rebounds across 36 games), Bruce (6.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 35 games), Newley (6.4 points and 3.7 rebounds across 34 games), Moller (6.4 points and 5.7 rebounds across 36 games) and Kickert (6 points across 26 games) provided further support. Ware was selected to the All-NBL Second Team and won both the Kings’ Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards, Martin was named Members’ Player of the Year, Moller received the Coaches’ Award and Bruce and Hunter shared Players’ Player honours. Hunter finished runner-up to Sam Froling for Most Improved Player, while Vasiljevic finished runner-up to Josh Giddey for Rookie of the Year.

Sydney’s perimeter shooting remained one of its biggest weaknesses, with the Kings making 33.4 percent of their three-pointers, the second-lowest percentage in the league. After moving firmly inside the top four, five losses across seven games pushed Sydney outside the playoff positions before the Kings recovered to win their final three games. With Louzada already in New Orleans, Sydney closed the regular season against Brisbane at Qudos Bank Arena on June 5, where Martin (28 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals) and Ware (14 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Kings to an 83-82 victory, while Nathan Sobey (22 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists) led Brisbane. Sydney finished fifth with a 19-17 record and missed the playoffs.

Didi Louzada played two seasons the Sydney Kings. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 45 NBL games.