NBA Players from Spain

A look at NBA players who have come from Spain, including Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio, and Serge Ibaka.

Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol is a professional basketball player who was born in Barcelona, Spain. He is a two-Ime Nba champion, a four-time NBA All-Star and was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2002. Gasol has also represented Spain in international competition, winning a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship

Ricky Rubio

Ricky Rubio Vásquez is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also represents the Spanish national team Rubio became the youngest player ever to play in the Spanish ACB League on October 15, 2005, at age 14. He made his EuroLeague debut two days later. On June 25, 2009, Rubio was drafted with the fifth pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves He became the first Spaniard to be drafted in the lottery and just the second to play in an NBA game

In November 2009, he was assigned to Alicante of the LEB Oro, before returning to Minnesota early into 2010. After successful showings in Minnesota’s training camp and pre-season friendlies, Rubio was promoted to the position of starting point guard by then Head Coach Kurt Rambis. On March 9, 2011, he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee while playing against LA Lakers.

Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol Saez is a Spanish Professional Basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He stands 7 feet 1 inches (2.16 m) tall and is a three-time NBA All-Star He was drafted 48th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA Draft but he is considered one of the best International Players in the NBA.

Gasol has won two Olympic silver medals, an Olympic bronze medal and a FIBA World Cup title with the Spanish National Team He was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, and he has been voted four times to the All-NBA teams twice to the All-Defensive Teams and four times to the All-Star Teams.

Jose Calderon

Jose Calderon is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the seventh overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft Calderon also plays for the Spanish National Team

Sergio Rodriguez

Sergio Rodriguez is a Spanish professional basketball player who last played for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns Rodriguez also represented the Spanish national team

Rodriguez began his career with FC Barcelona of the Spanish ACB League. In his three seasons with Barcelona, he helped them to win one League Championship and two Euroleague titles. He then moved to the NBA, where he played for the Suns, the New York Knicks the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Trail Blazers With Portland, he helped them to reach the Western Conference Finals in 2017.

In his 11 NBA seasons Rodriguez averaged 7.1 points and 3.2 assists per game in 22.1 minutes per game.

Nikola Mirotic

Nikola Mirotic is a Spanish professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets He was later traded to the Chicago Bulls where he spent four seasons. In 2017, he was traded to the Pelicans.

Mirotic grew up in Montenegro and began his professional career with Real Madrid of the Liga ACB in 2009. He won two ACB championships and one League Championship with Madrid before being drafted by the Rockets in 2011. He was named to the All-Rookie Second Team in his first season with Chicago. He was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in 2018.

Mirotic has also been a member of the senior Spanish National Team He won a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2011 and a silver medal at EuroBasket 2013.

Willy Hernangomez

Born in Madrid, Willy Hernangomez began playing professionally with Real Madrid in 2012. He signed with the New York Knicks in 2015 and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2016. Hernangomez averaged 8.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game during his rookie season.

Juancho Hernangomez

Juancho Hernangomez is a professional basketball player from Spain who plays for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA. He is 2.06 m tall and he plays the Power Forward and center positions.

Victor Claver

Victor Claver is a professional basketball player from Spain who has played in the NBA. He was born in Valencia, Spain on August 7, 1989. Claver stands at 6’10” and plays the power forward and small forward positions. He began his professional career in 2006 with Valencia BC of the Spanish ACB League. In 2009, he was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 22nd overall pick in the NBA Draft

Claver played three seasons with the Trail Blazers before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2012. He only played one game for the Nuggets before being waived. In 2013, he signed a two-year contract with FC Barcelona Regal of the Spanish ACB League. After one season with Barcelona Regal, he returned to the NBA and signed a multi-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans He was then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers during his second season with the Pelicans. Currently, Claver is playing for CB Miraflores in Madrid, Spain.

Alex Abrines

Born in Barcelona, Spain, Alex Abrines is a professional Basketball player who has spent his entire career playing in the NBA. Standing at 6’6″, he plays the shooting guard and small forward positions. Abrines began his professional career with the Spanish team FC Barcelona Regal, before being drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2013. He has since played for the Thunder for four seasons, winning an NBA Championship with the team in 2016.