Holly MacKenzie - Raptors.com

The locker room cleared quickly after the Toronto Raptors held on for a 92-85 victory against Maccabi Haifa.

Despite the hurried exits of Toronto’s starters, a throng of reporters remained, eager to speak with rookie Lucas Nogueira. Reporters weren’t the only ones wanting to talk to him, though. While the media waited to ask him about his Raptors debut, Nogueira was on the phone with his family who had watched the game from Brazil.

Finally cleared for game action after rehabbing a strained hamstring, Nogueira was thrilled to play 11 minutes and score eight points, grab two rebounds and block two shots. With a wide smile and bright eyes, the 22-year-old beamed as he recounted the conversation.

“My mom, she’s so emotional,” Nogueira said. “She was crying a lot. She was crying about everything. I understand she cried because they adopted me so they give me all support to be, not a basketball player, but a good person and a good human. I think the most important thing, [more than] make money and play basketball, is to be a good person. They gave me whole education and support. So right now, seeing her son in the NBA I think is a very, she’s so proud, so I understand she’s crying. My sister, too.”

Nogueira’s new Raptors family was also excited for him. After his second block of the night, his teammates jumped off the bench to celebrate. Before the game, veteran James Johnson helped to calm Nogueira’s nerves, telling him not to worry about mistakes, that everyone makes them, and that what’s most important is that he gives 100 per cent while he’s on the floor.

“I spoke with my mom right now on the phone, my friends in Brazil, they say they saw the game,” Nogueira said. “I spoke about the situation [with] the veteran guys [here]. It’s very important they give support.

"I think a lot of locker rooms in the NBA, maybe they don't have the same support because sometimes the veterans have the mentality like, 'the rookie’s coming to get my job,' but here the veterans they give you support to be a good NBA player. I’m so happy to be here with this franchise.”

Nogueira understands that being a rookie means paying dues and waiting his turn. Acknowledging that it has been hard to be sidelined with injury and have to watch, he also has his expectations in check.

“I’m OK because I’ve played six years professionally,” he said. “The first three years [in Spain] I didn’t play. I stayed on the bench the whole year. Sometimes, the five man got hurt, coach put the shooting guard in the post, but don’t [play] me. I’m OK if I don’t play 82 games.”

Nogueria knows it will take time to get used to the NBA game, but understanding what is expected of a professional athlete will help with the adjustment.

“It’s my first year in the NBA,” he said. "It’s not my first professional year, but it’s my first year in the NBA. I think the most important thing for the rookie guys is that they know their role on the team. I know my role on the team. If I have to stay on the bench for 82 games, I’ll stay happy, because I know the most important thing in the first year is to learn from the veterans and develop your game. If I have a chance to play, I’ll try to show the skills I learned in Spain: protect the rim, rebound, I can score sometimes. I think right now I don’t have to score because we have amazing scoring guys on our team.”

Although he only has 11 minutes of game action credited to his name so far, Nogueria has already emerged as one of the most colourful personalities the Raptors locker room has had in recent years. The Brazilian big man isn’t afraid to share his excitement about living out his dream of being in the NBA.

“I come to the game a little bit nervous, but I think my mindset [is], ‘Lucas, do whatever you do in Spain, I think you got drafted because people know what you do in Spain so try to show it here in the NBA,’” Nogueira said.

“I’m so glad to help my team to win the game tonight.”