Five world champions and newcomer Lorenzo Brown, on Scariolo’s list for the European

Pau’s retirement last summer marked the beginning of a new stage in the national team and, although Scariolo has been working on the relief for years, the long list of those called up for the Eurobasket shows that the coach still harbors many doubts. Starting with the point guard position, where the injuries of Ricky Rubio and Alocén forced the Federation (FEB) to urgently nationalize a player, Lorenzo Brown, with no relation to the country and whose presence in the squad had raised thorns in the locker room. Rudy Fernández, the first to criticize the express nationalization of the American, did not hesitate to calm things down and welcome the base, called to be one of the important pieces in the European Championship. The captain has already blessed Brown, who seems to have a secure job as conductor. It will be necessary to see who accompanies him there, because Scariolo has only called three other pure guards and one of them, the Madrid player Juan Núñez, is a debutant in the absolute. Both he and Colom and Alberto Díaz will have to fight to gain a foothold as second baseman, a role that could also be played by players like Llull, Abalde or Jaime Fernández.

«The generational change in which we are immersed supposes a great challenge. We are very clear that the values ​​of the national team do not vary, but the level of talent does. The generosity, cohesion, camaraderie and effort that make the fans proud are elements that have made us famous and admired throughout the world. Values ​​in which we so carefully raise the young players who come up from the academy teams and who are very well prepared by the clubs, “reflects Scariolo just three days before the start of the concentration.

without azulgranas

Among those selected, a nucleus from the 2019 World Cup, with captain Rudy Fernández at the helm, in addition to the brothers Hernango shirt, Llull and Colom, and Usman Garuba, who returns after playing in the Games and his first season in the NBA. Both he and Abalde are in the process of recovering from injuries and their final presence in the team will depend on their evolution.

The puzzle at the point guard position is no less complicated near the basket, where the renovation is almost total. Only Willy Hernangómez and Usman Garuba will repeat the Tokyo Games last summer, although the final presence of the Rockets player will depend on the evolution of the ankle injury he suffers. The eldest of the Hernangómez will finally have to assume a leading role for Spain. His will be the team’s five starter and a good part of the team’s future in the championship will pass through his hands. A test of maturity for which Willy is prepared after many summers learning from the Gasols or Felipe Reyes. Along with Willy, two of those who have shone the most in the qualifying windows and who have not yet had a place in a major championship with Spain appear as other candidates for a place in the zone. It is the opportunity for Sebas Saiz and Sima, whose recent growth makes them part of that future of the team.

The return of Juancho after the Games is the great foreign novelty of Spain. The youngest of the Hernangómez brothers was left without playing the Olympic event because the Timberwolves prevented him from doing so. Now, recently signed by the Raptors, he will be able to wear the national team jersey without any problems. Next to him there will be heavyweights from the locker room like the aforementioned Rudy Fernández, Sergio Llull or Abalde, who due to injury makes him doubtful like Garuba. It will not be, for sure, Nikola Mirotic, who resigns from the national team again, with which he has been since Rio 2016 and leaves, for the first time in years, the national dressing room of Barcelona players.