With the Rio Olympics around the corner, I’ve decided to pick the 12 players to make the Spanish squad. Here are the 12 men I think are the best bet for Spain to pick if they are to give Team USA a fight at the Olympics in Rio.
Pau Gasol
When you speak of Spanish Basketball, the first name that pops into your head is probably Pau Gasol. Having started his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies, the NBA Rookie of the year in 2002 went onto win 2 NBA championships with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010.
During his prime, Pau could throw down thundering dunks, put the ball on the floor from outside the 3 point arc and take it all the way to the rim and dunk on Alley oops, however as he has gotten older, he has started using his footwork to great effect at the post plays and now takes more jump shots. Pau was adjudged MVP of the Euro Basket 2015, where he led his national side to Gold showing that he still has something to offer to the game.
Points per game – 16.7, Rebounds – 10.9, Assists per game – 3.2, Blocks per game – 2.0
Marc Gasol
The Younger Gasol Brother first represented Spain as a teenager back in 2001. Now 31, Marc just signed a 5 year, $110 Million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, the team he has been representing since 2008.
The 215 cm tall center is a very versatile big man with a signature, virtually un-guardable hook shot. He is also skilled in the post plays like Pau and is a very reliable outside shooter. Marc is also a very solid defensive presence, indicated by his stats on blocks and steals. He has had several big performances at international events before and he will have to repeat them this time too for Spain to have a sniff at Gold.
Points per game – 16.7, Rebounds per game – 7.1, Assists per game – 3.9, Blocs per game – 1.4
Rudy Fernandez
In my eyes Rudy is the Michael Jordan of the Euro League! Playing for Real Madrid at the Liga ACB and Euro League back in Spain, Rudy is one of the few players to have given up the NBA despite being wanted by the league. Although he played for the Trail blazers from 2008-2011 and then played 31 games for the Denver Nuggets, Rudy announced his decision to quit the NBA citing the length of the season (82 games per regular season) as the main reason for his decision.
Rudy can do it all- He can shoot, he can dribble, he can dunk, he can rebound. He can play lockdown D but can also help his teammates out on a mismatch. He will even chase down men who are not his to guard and either rip the ball from them or send their shots flying into the seats. On the Basketball court at Rio -Rudy will be EVERYWHERE!
Points per game – 10, Assists per game – 2.3, Steals per game – 3.3
Ricky Rubio
Some regard Rubio as the best European guard prospect ever, which is quite something for someone so young. Rubio was the youngest player to ever play at the Spanish ACB league when he debuted at the age of 14!
A player known for his incredible court vision, ball handling skills and bullet passes, Ricky Rubio is also a menace for opponents on the defensive end as indicated by the 2.2 steals per game stats line; he is also an above average rebounder for a guard. We can all expect to see some jaw-dropping no-look passes from Ricky at Rio.
Points per game – 9.4, Assists per game – 8.8, Steals per game – 2.2, Rebounds per game – 4.3
Nikola Mirotic
Mirotic has undergone a second surgery on his appendix, but I don’t think surgery is going to stop this up and coming basketball star from competing at the Rio Olympics 2016.
At just the age of 24, Mirotic is one of the better power forwards in the game, who can also step outside the 3 Point line and knock down shots consistently. It is always great when your big guys can shoot from outside the arc as this creates driving lanes for guards to penetrate right into the teeth of the D; that’s exactly what Mirotic can do. He is also a very good passer, solid defender, even against quicker and smaller players and is also a solid presence in the defensive end.
Points per game – 10.6, Rebounds per game – 5.9, Blocks per game – 0.7
Sergio Llull
Llull plays starting point guard for Real Madrid at Liga ACB. At 6 feet 3 inches tall, he could be the ideal combo guard in the Spanish lineup. He played a crucial role in winning 3 Gold medals for the national team at the Euro Basket (2009, 2011 & 2015) and a Silver medal at the 2012 Olympics.
Llull is best known for his speed and vertical leap and is also a reliable long and mid-range jump shooter. He also has good passing ability and plays an up tempo style of basketball which would definitely help a young and athletic Spanish team which likes to play the game fast.
Points per game – 10.8, Assists per game -4.3, Rebounds per game – 1.7
Jose Calderon
At age 34, Jose Calderon will bring the skill set and experience into this relatively young Spanish side. The former Spanish national captain, was an important part of the 2006 FIBA World championship team for Spain. He has also won 2 Silver medals with the national team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Calderon is the type of guard that will be a strong presence at both ends of the floor. He is a very effective 3 point shooter, shooting with 41.1 % accuracy this season. He is also very effective with the off the dribble pull up jumper, pick and roll ball handler plays and precise passes. Yet another lock down defender both on and off the ball with 1.7 steals per game. When the going gets tough Jose is the type of player who will make that big play for Spain at Rio 2016 in my opinion.
Points per game – 7.5, Assists per game – 4.0, Rebounds per game – 3.0, Steals per game – 1.7
Serge Ibaka
Although Ibaka was born in the Congo, he moved to France and then to Spain at the age of 17. He was drafted into the NBA in 2008 and currently plays at the starting power forward position for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ibaka is Spain’s number 1 defensive player in my opinion; quite an impressive feat given the fact that the entire team has a ‘defense first’ mentality. He is a monster on the D area blocking shots at will, he has an impressive 2.1 blocks per game stat line making him an elite post player. He is also a very strong rebounder and can help the team out by crashing on a few offensive rebounds. Shot blocking and offensive rebounding might be 2 areas Team Spain may struggle with, but Ibaka can go a long way in changing that.
Points per game – 12.9, Rebounds per game – 6.8, Blocks per game – 2.1
Sergio Rodriguez
Give me Ricky Rubio, Jose Calderon and Sergio Llull and I’d still choose 29 year old Sergio Rodriguez as my starting point guard for team Spain. That’s how good Rodriguez is (in my opinion at least!)
He is an incredibly fast player, has breath taking ball handling skills and is a pin point passer of the basketball. He is an accurate long range shooter and off the dribble mid-range shooter and is also a very stubborn defender. When Spain plays at the Rio Olympics, watch out for the ‘Rodriguez signature’ – throwing an Alley Oop to Rudy Fernandez when he cuts towards the rim from base line!
Points per game – 10.2, Assists per game – 6.9, Rebounds per game – 2.3, Steals per game – 0.6
Felipe Reyes
Felipe Reyez was the national team Captain who led Team Spain to the European basketball crown in 2015 and it is likely he will lead them at Rio 2016 too.
He plays very basic basketball, but plays it to great effect. Although he is undersized, he fights for position on the floor on rebounds, often getting in front of his opposing number and boxing him out thus collecting the rebound. When making under the basket plays, he will absorb contact with his body first to evade the shot blockers arms and then finish strong. You can always expect Felipe Reyez to perform consistently.
Victor Claver
Spain is full of guards and post players. What it lacks are true small forwards, that’s where Claver would come in handy. He has played in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets and is currently playing for the Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United league in Russia. Claver has 3 Gold medals with Spain at the Euro Basket (2009, 2011 & 2015) and a Silver medal at the London Olympics 2012. He is the type of player who will do anything and everything that the team requires him to do, and can make clutch plays down the stretch. Watch out for Claver’s off the ball game on offense where he runs off screens and takes outside shots or cuts right to the rim!
Fernando San Emeterio
Emeterio will be a crucial part of the Spanish line up at Rio for sure. He currently plays for Valencia Basket of the Spanish Liga ACB and was a key part of Spain’s Olympics team in 2012 and has also won Gold at the Euro Basket in 2011 and more recently at the Euro Basket 2015. Emeterio is a Kwahi Leonard type of player who focuses primarily on his defense but can make big shots on offense too when needed.
Conclusion
I have chosen 5 Guards in Rubio, Llull, Rodriguez, Calderon and Fernandez. 3 Forwards in Claver, Emeterio and Nikola Mirotic and 4 solid post players in the Gasol Brothers, Reyez and Ibaka for my 12 man squad. I’ll like to point out that Fernandez can play the small forward spot if Spain wants to go smaller and quicker on the back court and Nikola Mirotic can play a stretch power forward creating driving lanes for the immensely talented back court. I believe Serge Ibaka’s shot blocking ability and Rudy Fernandez shooting form will be the 2 most crucial factors for a Spanish victory At Rio.
Spain has won Gold at the 2006 FIBA World Cup and 3 Gold medals at the Euro Basket (2009, 2011 & 2013) in recent memory. However they have fallen short twice at the Olympics stage (2008, 2012) both at the hands of the mighty USA.
Until we meet again at ‘Swishing the Nets’ on thepapare.com – Keep ballin!
*All stats provided for the players playing for European club teams are based on their performances at the Euro league and not based on their respective domestic leagues.
