Anderson França Varejão (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈɐ̃deʁsõ ˈfɾɐ̃sɐ vɐɾeˈʒɐ̃w]; born September 28, 1982) is a Brazilian former professional basketball player who is currently a Player Development Consultant and Global Ambassador for the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he spent 13 of his 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

With a career that spanned four professional leagues, Varejão also played for Franca and the Flamengo of the Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB), Barcelona of the EuroLeague and Liga ACB, and has been a regular member of the Brazilian national team, winning a gold medal in 2003 at the Pan American Games.

After averaging 17.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game in the first half of the 2001–02 season with them, he signed with FC Barcelona Bàsquet of the Liga ACB in January 2002.

He once again did not play in the playoffs, but Barcelona won its second straight Liga ACB championship, led by Navarro and Bodiroga.

[2] On July 23, 2004, Varejão, along with Drew Gooden and Steven Hunter, were traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Tony Battie and two future second-round picks.

[6] Varejão had a season-high 14 points on two occasions and a career-high 18 rebounds in a narrow 100–99 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on April 19, 2006.

[4] During the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Detroit Pistons, the career 63% foul shooter uncharacteristically shot over 80% from the free throw line and played a big part in the Cavaliers' victories in Game 3 (16 points)[7] and Game 4 (drawing a charge from Chauncey Billups with 29 seconds left to play and by preventing Richard Hamilton from making a potentially game-winning shot).

[14] Varejão helped the Cavaliers reach the 2007 NBA Finals, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in a four-game sweep.

[16] In the 2007 offseason, Varejão became a restricted free agent, and he did not sign a contract with the Cavaliers at the start of the 2007–08 NBA season.

[23] On December 30, he recorded 14 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks while also making the game-winning three-pointer in a 106–101 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

[29] However, Varejão suffered a broken wrist in a narrow 113–112 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks 10 days later, causing him to miss the rest of the season.

[32] Two weeks later against the Brooklyn Nets on November 13, he scored a career-high 35 points while also recording 18 rebounds, three assists, and two steals in the 114–101 loss.

[33] However, on January 21, 2013, it was announced that Varejão would miss the rest of the season after being hospitalized due to a blood clot in his lung.

[34] Over 25 games and starts in the 2012–13 season, Varejão had career-highs, averaging 14.1 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 steals in 31.4 minutes.

[40][41] He had been having a good offensive season as LeBron James' favorite pick-and-roll partner, shooting 55 percent from the field and averaging 10 points and 6.6 rebounds.

[42] However, during a 125–104 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 23, Varejão tore his Achilles and was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the 2014–15 season.

[58][59][60] The Warriors went on to win the NBA Finals in 2017, and Varejão was offered a championship ring as a result, which he accepted.

[67] On January 13, 2023, the Cavaliers hired Varejão to hold the role of Player Development Consultant and Global Ambassador.

[68] Varejão has been a regular member of the senior Brazilian national team since 2001, winning a gold medal in 2003 at the Pan American Games and competing in every world cup between 2002 and 2019.

[69] On August 23, 2006, he committed a controversial foul during a preliminary game of the 2006 FIBA World Championship against Greece, elbowing Greek point guard Nikos Zisis in the face.

[72] Longtime Cavaliers teammate LeBron James defended Varejão, stating: "He's taking physical charges.