The 2022-2023 NBA season comes with a very positive outlook for the spanish players. All of them enter this course with renewed illusions and most of them with a unique opportunity to vindicate themselves and establish themselves in their respective teams.
Willy Hernangomez and Santi Aldama They are the ones who have the best prospects to have many minutes thanks to the situation in the Pelicans and Grizzlies. The great unknowns will be the cases of Usman Garuba, Juancho Hernangomez and Serge Ibaka, which have a notable rivalry in their respective positions. Finally, Ricky Rubio He will have to wait until he recovers to be able to consider what his year will be like.
With all this in mind, from the official website of the NBA in Spain The keys and the most important stories to follow in this course for national players will be analyzed.
The confirmation of Willy Hernangomez
After a long time working in the shadows, Willy Hernangómez has finally obtained tangible results. The MVP achieved at Eurobasket 2022 It is not only a blow on the table at the individual level, but a warning that he can be a multidimensional figure on the court, something that has been systematically doubted in recent campaigns. Although it is an anecdotal fact, since 2009 all the players who won the MVP of the European tournament were All-Star in the season that followed.
The man from Madrid is facing some extremely important months for his future in the NBA and the fact is that the New Orleans Pelicans have a team option they may or may not run before June 29. A date that seems very far away but whose decision will be made based on what you can do in this course. Willy has made it clear that he wants to take advantage of his great form and that the only way to do it is to have a few minutes that you have earned in recent months.
At the age of 28, Hernangómez has evolved to become a substitute midfielder with guarantees, capable of adapting to any scenario and, above all, offering positive numbers. A fact that reflects this is that along with JaVale McGee, Willy was the only player to average more than 9 points and 6 rebounds in less than 17 minutes on average, a statistic that reinforces his impact for New Orleans. If Willie Green chooses to consolidate him as the substitute for Valanciunas and that he has more playing time, the man from Madrid will surely be up to the challenge.
MORE | Willy’s schedule with the Pelicans
The complex situation of Juancho Hernangómez
In contrast to his older brother, Juancho is not going to have anything easy about the new challenge before him. Indeed, the forward is coming off an excellent tournament, being key in Spain’s gold medal in the final, but the options of moving that momentum to the NBA are rather small.
The landing of Hernangómez in the Raptors occurs after he was transferred four times in the span of seven months, something that detracted a lot from his figure and did not allow him to be constant. Although Toronto is a place where there have been stories of players who have surprised, there is a notable overpopulation in the position of the Madrilenian. At power forward alone there are three players who should be ahead of him in the rotation solely by stripes (Siakam, Achiuwa and Boucher), while at forwards (Barnes, Porter Jr and Anunoby) things don’t get any better.
If we add to this the fact that Nick Nurse is a coach who does not tend to rotate much, even in the regular season (5 players over 35 minutes on average), the margin for Juancho to be able to go out and play constantly is minimal unless there is a long-term injury.
In short, this is the story that has been defining the trajectory of the Spaniard in recent campaigns. A circumstance that can hardly be related to his level of play or his impact on the court and that one more year will define his NBA course.
MORE | Juancho’s schedule with the Raptors
The moment of confirmation of Santi Aldama
The Canarian player’s first season was positive, although limited by his own progression and adaptation to the league and the fact that he joined a team that was on the rise like the Grizzlies. Even so, Aldama left very good feelings, especially in the G Leaguewhere he ended up averaging 28.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in his last five games.
With this in mind, history seems to be repeating itself in Memphis for another season.. What does this mean? Well, in recent seasons it has been common for the youngsters of the franchise not to have a very brilliant or extremely outstanding first year (case of Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson, Dillon Brooks) for their year. sophomore blow. The best example of this is found in Aldama’s Summer League, where he was included in the second best quintet. Proof that the power forward is in a position to consecrate himself within the promising project of the Grizzlies.
And this is not a set phrase, but the circumstances play in his favor. Years Jackson Jr he should be sidelined with injury until well into December or January, giving him roughly two months to even earn a spot in the starting lineup. Everyone in the organization is confident in the potential and in what Aldama can bring to the group, a versatile midfielder with a remarkable size who can play from outside to inside.
MORE | Aldama’s schedule with the Grizzlies
Health, the most important thing for Ricky Rubio
The only Spanish player who will not be available to play on matchday one will be Ricky Rubio, who is in the final stretch of his recovery. The Cavs point guard suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and has started training with contact in recent days.
A very important fact because it will allow you to know better what state you are in physically and if you will be able to return sooner or later. In the worst case scenario, the Catalan would be back in February, just for the resolution of the Regular Phase, and in the best case in mid-November.
beyond dates, the most important thing for Ricky is to return when his body decides so, that is, avoid any type of risk at all costs. This is the second injury to the same knee in his career, something to consider given his age, so being cautious in this matter is vital.
MORE | Ricky’s schedule with the Cavs
A blank canvas for Usman Garuba
In a way, it could be said that in this month of October Usman Garuba’s NBA career really begins. All the conditions and problems that weighed down the Manchego in the previous year and that prevented him from playing in absolute terms for a long period of time are part of the past. And nothing can be more positive for the former Real Madrid player than this, since now Garuba is a much more mature playermore prepared and who has worked in the gym and on the track to earn a spot on the Rockets.
Two things play in their favor. The first is the motivational boost and competitive preparation that the Eurobasket, where the interior was the key to the second unit thanks to its defensive contribution and vision of the game in attack. Secondly, it should be noted the movements that have occurred in the Houston squad who have released their position, having only the competition of Derrick Favors, Boban Marjanovic and the two-way Bruno Fernando among the substitutes.
Garuba’s Eurobasket has surprised the Rockets and if he manages to complete a positive preseason his chances of playing regularly will increase considerably.
MORE | Garuba’s schedule with the Rockets
A new role for Serge Ibaka
The complicated injuries that have marked the last few years of Serge Ibaka have considerably changed the final stretch of his career in the NBA. A circumstance that has relegated him to a different role within the teams, in this case the Milwaukee Bucks, but after a whole offseason to prepare could be different.
In the group led by Mike Budenholzer, the Hispanic-African aims to be an important piece from the inside, that is, in the locker room.
Despite this, those from Wisconsin repeat a squad that is practically identical to that of the last courses, with very marked functions, so Ibaka should not have any problems playing regularly.
MORE | Ibaka’s schedule with the Bucks
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the NBA or its organizations.
