NOT having NBA superstar power is hardly a reason to remove Spain from its lofty perch atop Fiba basketball.
The Spaniards are the No. 1-ranked team in the world for a reason – and are still expected to field a cohesive unit that will still shine and be more than enough to defend their 2019 title in next month’s 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup .
Coming off a 2022 Fiba Eurobasket title conquest at the expense of France, Spain announced a 16-man World Cup pool this month, from which it can still form an entire starting unit of NBA players – two current and the rest having recent experience.
Coached by Italian Sergio Scariolo, Spain opens its World Cup campaign in Group C with Iran, Ivory Coast, and Brazil at the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta.
Check out what the Spain Starting 5 in 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup could look like:
SG – Alex Abrines
The former Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard didn’t see action in the European qualifiers, but remains first on the depth chart based on experience.
The 32nd overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-6 Abrines played three seasons with Thunder until 2019 and now plays for local side FC Barcelona.
Turning 30 on August 1, Abrines last played for the national team in the Tokyo Olympics, where he averaged 4.3 points, 1.2 treys, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assist in 21.2 minutes in his country’s sixth-place finish.
SF – Juancho Hernangomez
The Hustle movie star could use the World Cup to prove he still deserves the spotlight as a basketball player.
Currently a free agent playing his seventh NBA season for Toronto last season, averaging just 2.9 points and 2.9 boards in 14.6 minutes over 42 games with 10 starts, the 6-foot-9 Hernangomez tries to make the most of his national stint to get a look from scouts.
A natural power forward, the 27-year-old cager could spend some time at small forward with the team’s lack of natural wingmen
Hernangomez played two games in the qualifiers, where he averaged six points, 4.5 boards, two assists, and one steal in 22.3 minutes.
Spain, though, can turn to a natural small forward – and instant offense – from 38-year-old veteran Rudy Fernandez.
C – Willy Hernangomez
A role player in the NBA, Hernangomez transforms into a heavy and efficient scorer in the international scene and is expected to carry Spain’s offense in the World Cup.
The 35th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-11 center has played seven seasons in the NBA, averaging 6.9 points on 52.7-percent shooting, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assist in just 12.1 minutes over 38 games with two starts for the New Orleans Pelicans last season.
But the 29-year-old big man steps up for then national team, averaging a team-high 14.5 points on 68.4% shooting, 6.5 boards, and one block in just 13.5 minutes in a two-game qualifying window.
After recently signing a three-year deal with FC Barcelona, Hernangomez can now focus on leading Spain to another World Cup title.
Spain has another current NBA center in the rotation in OKC’s Usman Garuba.
PF - Santi Aldama
The Memphis Grizzlies big man didn’t play in the qualifiers, but is expected to make splash in his seniors debut for the country.
The 30th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Aldama is coming off a solid sophomore season where he averaged nine points on 47% shooting, 4.8 boards, and 1.3 assists in 21.8 minutes over 77 games with 20 starts.
That could be enough for the 22-year-old 7-footer, who last played for the national team in the 2019 Fiba Under-18 European Championship, to start at power forward, with a rotation that also has veteran Victor Claver
PG - Ricky Rubio
The Cleveland Cavaliers playmaker remains the owner of the keys to Spain’s offense – for more than a decade now – despite not seeing action in the qualifiers.
The 32-year-old Rubio is coming off an NBA season where he averaged 5.2 points, 3.5 assists, 2.1 boards, and 0.8 steal in 17.2 minutes over 33 games with two starts.
A pass-first point guard, the 6-foot-2 Rubio showed he can take over when necessary after he averaged 16.4 points, six assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 26.3 minutes to be named 2019 World Cup MVP.
Expect Rubio to keep Spain’s offense humming.