There was a time when the Spanish were a relevant force in the NBA. At present there is not a single one that is a starter in a team.
The NBA is the most demanding competition in the world and does not marry anyone. Ask the Hernangómez brothers, who after their European successes with the Spanish team have come face to face with cruel reality. The North American tournament is governed by special rules that have made finding success difficult for home basketball.
Gone are the days of champagne and roses when the Gasol brothers were All-Stars, with Calderón, Ibaka, Mirotic or Abrines starting their respective teams. Spain has remained reduced to a secondary power in the NBA and we want to analyze the season of each of the Spaniards in the current NBA:
RICKY RUBIO
He best spanish player in the current pound-for-pound NBA he has reappeared after a serious knee injury at the Cleveland Cavaliers, being unable to pick up where he left off.
Ricky is averaging the worst statistical numbers of his career: 17 minutes per game for 5.5 points and 3.4 assists. We assume that in the play-offs he will improve his role.
Santi Aldama
The only green shoot in Spanish basketball is having a few minutes at the Memphis Grizzlies. He has known how to take advantage of opportunities thanks to the team’s multiple injuries in inside positions getting averages of 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in 22 minutes of play.
He aspires to become the undisputed starter on the Elvis City team.
WILLY HERNANGOMEZ
The center lives a drama in the New Orleans Pelicans. As soon as he plays three games in a row making good numbers as he is without playing a minute in two weeks.
His averages of 7.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 12 minutes tell us about a player who should deserve more opportunities, but who is covered by Jonas Valanciunas.
JUANCHO HERNANGOMEZ
The forward, MVP of the final of the last EuroBasket, he has been unemployed for more than a month and it seems that this season he will not have the opportunity to wear any more uniform.
The Toronto Raptors surprisingly cut him after barely having opportunities. He played 42 games with averages of 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds.
USMAN GARUBA
The power forward is exerting the role of defensive specialist in the Houston Rockets, the worst team in the NBA. In his second season in the NBA, he is averaging 13 minutes per game for a total of 3.1 points and 4.2 rebounds.
His future in the North American competition could be quite complicated if he does not improve his shooting range.
SERGE IBAKA
Another who, like Juancho, is unemployed. The power forward was cut by the Milwaukee Bucks and it seems that he will not have a place in a Play-off team.
At 33, his future could be in European basketball after averaging this season 11 minutes of play with 4.1 points and 2.8 rebounds. His physical exuberance of yesteryear seems like a mere memory.
