Willy, Garuba… Spain wants to show its NBA quality in Paris

They had to work hard in the pre-Olympic, but Spain will be in olympic games, where he wants to show the collective spirit of winning that led him to win the 2022 Eurobasket, although there are specific players called to defend themselves such as Willy Hernangómez and Usman Garuba.

The Spanish team may no longer have the same NBA quality as during the Gasoline either Ricky Rubio -who preferred not to participate in the Games-, but there are still players with NBA essence, with some cases of players who were especially motivated to show up after feeling undervalued in the best league in the world, in they are still inside or not.

These are all cases of players who compete or once competed in the American league.

A thorn in the side

Willy Hernangomez

When he put on the national team suit, Willy raised his level and even seemed to fulfill his desire on the court, as if he wanted to show the world that the NBA was wrong about him. The 2022 Eurobasket is the paradigm with its MVP and the duels it won against NBA centers like Jonas Valanciunas and a four-time Best Defender -three then-, like Rudy Gobert.

And in the last World Cup, and despite the elimination, he scored up to 25 points against a team full of players from the best league in the world like Canada.

Deandre Ayton Another NBA ‘5’ was surpassed by the Barça player with his 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 19 PIR in just 22 minutes in the pre-Olympic final.

The efficiency he showed until the last moment with the Pelicans before the Louisiana team abandoned him afterwards eight years in the best league in the world. Defense is not his best strength, but on the other side of the court he is unstoppable.

2

He wants to send a message to the NBA

Usman Garuba

Along with Willy, Usman Garuba may be the Spanish player of the team who is most stabbed by his pride in his experience in the NBA, where he has not yet found his place, without a team so far after a year in Warriors where he often played on the G-League team.

Like Willy, Garuba is growing especially in the national team to prove his worth and his performance in Eurobasket 2022 It also reevaluates him for the NBA. He left a generous example of his versatility on both sides of the court in the pre-Olympic and especially in a very important game like in the Bahamas, with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks and a PIR of 19 in just 18 minutes.

The Warriors saw in him a player profile similar to Draymond Green for his intelligence in passing the ball, his rebounding and his ability to defend anyone, also showed against a bigger interior like Ayton. Within 22 years He dared to take mid-range shots that he never missed, something that speaks volumes about his confidence.

He will wait for an opportunity in the NBA with information pointing to a possible return to real Madrid sources around him denied it.

3

It’s time to take another step forward

Santi Aldama

A very different case to others like Willy and Garuba, because Santi Aldama is a major part of the present and future of Memphis Grizzlies of Yes Morant at 23 years old.

The only Spaniard confirmed for next year’s NBA, the Canarian has been called upon to take another step forward with the national team and in this case become a consistent leader after his erratic performance at the World Cup. However, the one from Las Palmas showed all his quality against an NBA powerhouse like Canada. Jordi Fernandez with 20 points.

MVP of the pre-Olympic and also key in that final against the Bahamas with 12 points and a rating of 19 in 27 minutes, Aldama showed his ability to get off indirect blocks and score three-pointers, something which is unusual for a Grizzlies where his role on the perimeter It is limited to receiving released and converting standing feet.

Another facet to add to its versatility. You are eligible to extend your contract after your first contract newbie and the canary could give Memphis reasons to offer him that renewal soon.

4

With his Eurobasket in memory

Juancho Hernangomez

He has not been more prominent in this pre-Olympic tournament than the three mentioned above due to an injury, but he is also one of those motivated by the selection in the 2022 Eurobasket as the clearest example of his 7 triples and his MVP Eventually.

Unlike Willy, the player Panathinaikos didn’t show much in his final NBA season, from many to few Toronto Raptors which gave him opportunities in a 22-23 season where he could not transfer the confidence of the European.

After an irregular World Cup but coming off a season in which he won the Euroleague After all, it’s time for the 28-year-old forward to bring out all the qualities that led him to spend 7 years in the NBA.

5

The character and essence of the NBA

Rudy Fernandez

The NBA has long been behind him, but the captain showed his quality to succeed in the best league in the world during his four years there between 2008 and 2012 between the Blazers and the Nuggets, a career largely conditioned by serious back injury Trevor Ariza.

This is his last dance with the national team and basketball with him 39 yearsan opportune moment to show that talent and spirit, always leave it all on the court, bring his teammates together and score three-pointers when it’s needed.

And in the competition that witnessed his enormous mate Dwight Howard in the 2008 Olympic final For some reason he came to participate in the All Star dunk contest. Juan Nunez He finally won’t be called up after the Spurs picked Victor Wembanyama, although he doesn’t know if he’ll play in San Antonio next year or stay another year in Europe, perhaps at Barça.

And there are also other cases in the national team with NBA experience such as Lorenzo Brown and Alex Abrines or has the quality to play in the American league despite not having made the step as yet Sergio Llull, drafted 34th by the Nuggets in 2009. Spain may not have as much NBA talent as others, but the quality is there.