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"Cleveland stole my heart" - Why Anderson Varejao refused to leave "The Land" after retirement
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- "Cleveland stole my heart" - Why Anderson Varejao refused to leave "The Land" after retirement
Anderson Varejao went from being a filler on a trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers to being a cult figure for the Cavs, and now a resident of "The Land" after retirement.
While retirees in general, not just basketball players, avoid the city because of its cloudy, gloomy weather and sluggish economy, among other factors, Varejao chose to make it his permanent home after he retired from basketball.
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During a recent interview with former Chicago Bulls star Joakim Noah , Varejao explained why he decided to continue his post-basketball life in Cleveland.
"They're an amazing people," said Varejao. "They grind every day. It's a city built around hardworking people, loyal people, people who care for you on a daily basis, so I fit right in. They'll always support, the way that people are, and the way I wanted my kids to grow up is the way I grew up - grinding. I could go on and on and on, but you know, Cleveland stole my heart from Day 1."
Varejao was one of the most popular players for the Cavs
A native of Colatina, Brazil, Varejao was the Orlando Magic 's 30th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, but never played for them as he was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers as an add-on in the Drew Gooden-Tony Battie trade. Because of his floppy, curly hair and all-out effort on the court, he was known as the "Wild Thing" in Cleveland and quickly became a fan favorite among the Cavs faithful.
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Varejao was a key contributor for the Cavs, but in 2016, with the team poised to make a second run at the title, they dumped Andy's salary to the Portland Trail Blazers for draft picks so they could sign Channing Frye . Despite missing an opportunity to win a championship, he thanked the Cavs and the city in an emotional open letter.
"There is nothing like walking on the streets on a freezing cold day and hearing fans scream your name, then stopping to talk to those same fans. There is nothing like looking into the crowd and seeing over 20,000 people wearing wigs to match your hair. That's a feeling I will cherish for the rest of my life and never forget. The city of Cleveland is truly a special place... Home is where the heart is, and my heart will forever be in Cleveland," wrote Varejao.
Varejao stayed in Cleveland for good
Andy made good on that letter. After the Blazers waived Varejao, he signed with the Golden State Warriors . Interestingly, the 73-9 Warriors faced Varejao's former team, the Cavs, in the 2016 NBA Finals, making him the first player to play on both finalists in the same season.
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The Cavs won the championship and offered Andy a ring, which he refused out of respect for the Warriors, who had played in the NBA Finals. He chose to return to the Golden State the next season, but even then, he did not sell his Cleveland house because he knew it would be his home for good.
In 2019, Varejao married NFL Network's Stacy Bradley, whom she met a decade earlier, and reconnected with after he split with his first wife, Marcelle Silva, in 2016. The couple wed in a private ceremony attended by 34 family and friends. The couple now has two kids, Serenee and Sebastio.
A year later, Andy sold his 11-year home in Bay Village. There's no information online about his current address. But as we saw in Joakim's video, he is still entrenched in Cleveland. And by the way, Varejao's loyalty to the city and the Cavs paid off when he was hired in 2023 as a Player Development Consultant and Global Ambassador.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
