He NBA Draft It is one of the moments that most interest fans of the American league, an event that over the years has allowed many Spanish players to be chosen there and start their career on the other side of the Pond.
Of Fernando Martín to Pau Gasol passing through Ricky Rubio, Rudy Fernández or the recent ones Santi Aldama and Usman GarubaAn NBA Draft that has left moments to remember and in this article we bring you all the picks of the Spaniards in the history of the event.
All the Spanish players chosen in the NBA Draft: List, history and picks
Year | Round | Pick | Player | Equipment |
1985 | 2 | 38 | Fernando Martin | |
1987 | 5 | 113 | José Antonio Montero | Atlanta Hawks (traded to Memphis Grizzlies) |
1997 | 57 | 2 | Roberto Dueñas | Chicago Bulls |
2001 | 1 | 3 | Pau Gasol | |
2001 | 1 | 24 | Raul Lopez | Utah Jazz |
2002 | 2 | 39 | Juan Carlos Navarros | |
2004 | 2 | 10 | Albert Miralles | |
2005 | 1 | eleven | Fran Vazquez | |
2006 | 1 | 27 | Sergio Rodriguez | Phoenix Suns (traded to Portland Trail Blazers) |
2007 | 1 | 24 | Rudy Fernandez | |
2007 | 2 | 48 | Marc Gasol | Los Angeles Lakers (traded to Memphis Grizzlies) |
2008 | 1 | 24 | Serge Ibaka | |
2009 | 1 | 5 | Ricky Rubio | |
2009 | 1 | 22 | Victor Claver | |
2009 | 2 | 3. 4 | Sergio Llull | Denver Nuggets (traded to Houston Rockets) |
2011 | 1 | 23 | Nikola Mirotic | Houston Rockets (traded to Chicago Bulls) |
2013 | 2 | 2 | Alex Abrines | |
2015 | 2 | 35 | Willy Hernangomez | Philadelphia 76ers (traded to New York Knicks) |
2015 | 2 | 24 | Daniel Diez | Utah Jazz |
2016 | 1 | fifteen | Juancho Hernangomez | |
2021 | 1 | 23 | Usman Garuba | |
2021 | 1 | 30 | Santiago Aldama | Utah Jazz (traded to Memphis Grizzlies) |
2024 | – | – | – | – |
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Who was the last Spanish player to be chosen in the NBA Draft
The last Spanish player to be chosen in the NBA Draft was Santi Aldama. The Canarian was selected with the 30th pick by the Utah Jazz, although moments later he was moved to the Memphis Grizzlies where he has competed since the 2021-22 season in the American league.
Just a few picks before Usman Garuba was selected at number 23 by the Houston Rockets, although the former Real Madrid player would later move to other teams such as the Golden State Warriors.
Which Spanish player was chosen with the highest pick in the NBA Draft
The Spanish player chosen with the highest pick in the NBA Draft was Pau Gasol. The Hall of Famer was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks at No. 3 in 2001, but he would never play for them as he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
Pau Gasol would accumulate more than 1,200 games, more than 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and almost 4,000 assists in a legendary NBA career.
Who was the first Spaniard to be chosen in the NBA Draft
The first Spanish player to be chosen in the NBA Draft was Fernando Martín in 1985 by the New Jersey Nets. In position 38, the former Real Madrid player was selected by the franchise, for which he never played, as he would finally sign for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Fernando Martín would make his debut in the 1986-87 season, playing 24 games for the Blazers before finally returning to Spain.