Brazil sent Nene to the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have returned the favor.

In February, the Nuggets invited six Brazilian coaches to watch practices and games for two weeks and to meet with coaches.

Did it help?

It sure did. Brazil won the South American Championships last month in Uruguay and the Pan American Games earlier this month in the Dominican Republic.

"We learned a lot inside of the court and outside of the court," Brazil's head coach, Lula Ferreira, said before a 110-76 loss to the United States in the opener Wednesday night in the Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Roberto Clemente Coliseum. "We learned how to prepare for games."

Ferreira was joined in Denver by his two assistants. Also on hand were three coaches from Brazil's women's team.

"I think it helped make a big difference in our system," said Flavio Davis, an assistant under Ferreira. "It helped Brazilian basketball for the future."