The Most Famous

BASKETBALL PLAYERS from Spain

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This page contains a list of the greatest Spanish Basketball Players. The pantheon dataset contains 1,757 Basketball Players, 50 of which were born in Spain. This makes Spain the birth place of the 3rd most number of Basketball Players behind United States, and Serbia.

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Spanish Basketball Players of all time. This list of famous Spanish Basketball Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Spanish Basketball Players.

Photo of Pau Gasol

1. Pau Gasol (b. 1980)

With an HPI of 56.75, Pau Gasol is the most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 52 different languages on wikipedia.

Pau Gasol Sáez (Catalan: [ˈpaw ɣəˈzɔl], Spanish: [ˈpaw ɣaˈsol]; born July 6, 1980) is a Spanish former professional basketball player. He was a six-time NBA All-Star and a four-time All-NBA team selection, twice on the second team and twice on the third team. Gasol won two NBA championships, both with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2002 with the Memphis Grizzlies, the first non-American to win that award. He is regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time and one of the greatest European players of all time. He is the older brother of former NBA player Marc Gasol. Gasol was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the third overall pick in the first round of the 2001 NBA draft, but his rights were traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies. He holds the Grizzlies' franchise record for free throws made and attempted. Following more than six seasons with Memphis, Gasol played for the Los Angeles Lakers (2008–2014), Chicago Bulls (2014–2016), San Antonio Spurs (2016–2019), and Milwaukee Bucks (2019). Internationally, Gasol has won a FIBA World Cup title, three EuroBasket titles, two Olympic silver medals, and an Olympic bronze medal with the Spanish national basketball team. Gasol was named MVP of the 2006 FIBA World Cup and the 2009 and 2015 FIBA EuroBasket. Pau Gasol shares (with Krešimir Ćosić) the record for most EuroBasket MVP awards, with two each. Gasol is also the all-time leading scorer in the EuroBasket. In 2021, he became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In 2023, it was announced that Gasol would be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Photo of Juan Antonio San Epifanio

2. Juan Antonio San Epifanio (b. 1959)

With an HPI of 54.46, Juan Antonio San Epifanio is the 2nd most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 25 different languages.

Juan Antonio San Epifanio Ruiz (born 12 June 1959), most commonly known as "Epi", is a Spanish retired professional basketball player. He spent all of his club career playing with FC Barcelona. He was named the Mister Europa European Player of the Year in 1984, by the Italian basketball magazine Superbasket, and the Best European Player of the 1980s decade, by the French sports newspaper L'Équipe. He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991. At the Opening Ceremony of the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Games, he was honoured with being the last athlete to carry the Olympic torch, before handing it to the archer, Antonio Rebollo, who lit the fire in the cauldron, with an arrow. He was named one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors in 2008. He became a FIBA Hall of Fame player in 2016. He is considered to be one of the greatest swingmen to have ever played in Europe.

Photo of Pablo Laso

3. Pablo Laso (b. 1967)

With an HPI of 53.98, Pablo Laso is the 3rd most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Pablo Laso Biurrun (born 13 October 1967) is a Spanish professional basketball coach and former player who is the current head coach for Saski Baskonia of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He was the head coach of Real Madrid for eleven seasons from 2011 to 2022, guiding them to two EuroLeague championships and six ACB titles. As a player, he was a prominent point guard in Spain and Italy.

Photo of Juan Carlos Navarro

4. Juan Carlos Navarro (b. 1980)

With an HPI of 53.38, Juan Carlos Navarro is the 4th most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

Juan Carlos Navarro Feijoo, commonly known as either Juan Carlos Navarro or J. C. Navarro (born June 13, 1980), is a Spanish former professional basketball player and current basketball executive. He is the current general manager of the Spanish EuroLeague club FC Barcelona Bàsquet. During his playing career, at a height of 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall, he played at the shooting guard position. During his playing days, Navarro was nicknamed "La Bomba" (English: "The Bomb"), which is also the Spanish name for his signature basketball move, the tear drop, which was the shot Navarro was a specialist in and became well-known for. Navarro is widely regarded as one of the best European basketball players of all time. Navarro was the Eurobasket News All-Europe Player of the Year in 2009, 2010, and 2011. He was also named Mr. Europa in 2010. On March 14, 2014, Navarro was inducted into the Euroleague's Hall of Fame, after he was named a EuroLeague Legend. In 2018, he was named to the 101 Greats of European Basketball selection. Along with the Greek player Vassilis Spanoulis, Navarro was one of just two players, that were still active players at the time, that were specially selected for the honor. All of the other players that were chosen for the honor, had already retired from actively playing. During his pro club career, Navarro was a two-time EuroLeague champion, in 2003 and 2010. He was also named the EuroLeague MVP in 2009, the EuroLeague Final Four MVP in 2010, and he was also selected as a member of the EuroLeague 2000–2010 All-Decade Team and the EuroLeague 2010–2020 All-Decade Team. As the captain of the senior national team of Spain, Navarro notably won, among other medals, a FIBA World Cup gold medal in 2006, two FIBA Summer Olympics silver medals in 2008 and 2012, as well as two FIBA EuroBasket gold medals in 2009 and 2011. He also earned two All-EuroBasket Team selections (2005, 2011), and was the competition's MVP in 2011.

Photo of Emiliano Rodríguez

5. Emiliano Rodríguez (b. 1937)

With an HPI of 53.19, Emiliano Rodríguez is the 5th most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Emiliano Rodríguez (Spanish pronunciation: [emiˈljano roˈðɾiɣeθ]; born 10 June 1937) is a Spanish retired professional basketball player. He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991. He was enshrined into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007, and in 2008, Rodríguez was chosen as one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors.

Photo of Juan Hernangómez

6. Juan Hernangómez (b. 1995)

With an HPI of 52.53, Juan Hernangómez is the 6th most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 27 different languages.

Juan Alberto "Juancho" Hernangómez Geuer (born 28 September 1995) is a Spanish professional basketball player for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basketball League (GBL) and the EuroLeague. He was selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 15th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft and spent seven seasons in the NBA before returning to Europe. He is an All-EuroLeague Second Team selection and won the EuroLeague in 2024. Hernangómez represents the senior Spanish national team in international competition. He won the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and played a crucial part in winning the EuroBasket 2022, scoring a game-high 27 points in the final against France. Additionally to his playing career, Hernangómez co-starred in the Netflix basketball film Hustle in 2022, alongside Adam Sandler.

Photo of Sergio Llull

7. Sergio Llull (b. 1987)

With an HPI of 51.55, Sergio Llull is the 7th most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 31 different languages.

Sergio Llull Melià (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈseɾxjo ˈʎuʎ]; born 15 November 1987) is a Spanish professional basketball player and the team captain for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He is a 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) combo guard. Llull is Real Madrid's all-time leader in point scored. He is also a two−time All-EuroLeague Team selection, and was the EuroLeague MVP of the 2016–17 season. As a regular member of the senior Spain national team, he has won a FIBA World Cup title, three EuroBasket gold medals, as well as a bronze. He also won two Summer Olympics medals, a silver in 2012, and a bronze in 2016.

Photo of Juan Antonio Corbalán

8. Juan Antonio Corbalán (b. 1954)

With an HPI of 51.51, Juan Antonio Corbalán is the 8th most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Juan Antonio Corbalán Alfocea (born August 3, 1954) is a Spanish retired professional basketball player. The 6 ft. 1⁄2 in. (1.84 m) tall. Corbalán was one of the best European point guards of the 1980s. He represented his native country in three Summer Olympic Games (1972, 1980, and 1984). He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991 and selected a record 7 times for the FIBA All-Star Games. In 2008, he was named one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors.

Photo of Fernando Martín Espina

9. Fernando Martín Espina (1962 - 1989)

With an HPI of 51.20, Fernando Martín Espina is the 9th most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Fernando Martín Espina (March 25, 1962 – December 3, 1989) was a Spanish professional basketball player who was considered to be one of the best Spanish basketball players ever. Martín was 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) tall, and he played primarily at the center and power forward positions. He was considered a talented all-around athlete. He was a five-time swimming champion in Spain, as well as being a highly ranked athlete in the sports of handball, table tennis and judo. Martín wore the number 10 jersey, which Real Madrid retired after his death. He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players, in 1991. In 2007, he was enshrined into the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Photo of Jorge Garbajosa

10. Jorge Garbajosa (b. 1977)

With an HPI of 50.32, Jorge Garbajosa is the 10th most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 32 different languages.

Jorge Garbajosa Chaparro (born 19 December 1977) is a Spanish former professional basketball player, the outgoing president of the Spanish Basketball Federation, and the current President of FIBA Europe. Standing at 2.07 m (6 ft 9 1⁄2 in), he played both power forward and small forward. He was an All-EuroLeague first team selection in 2003, and an All-EuroLeague second team selection in 2006, while playing for Unicaja. During his stint in the NBA, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2007. A serious injury the following season cut his NBA career short, and he never truly recovered until his retirement. He played internationally with the senior Spain national team, which won a bronze medal at the EuroBasket 2001, two silver medals at the EuroBasket 2003 and 2007, and a gold medal at the EuroBasket 2009. During his tenure their highest achievement was the gold medal at the 2006 World Cup, where his stellar play earned him All-tournament honors. In 2006, Garbajosa was named Mr Europa Player of the year by Italian weekly magazine SuperBasket.

People

Pantheon has 50 people classified as Spanish basketball players born between 1937 and 2002. Of these 50, 49 (98.00%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Spanish basketball players include Pau Gasol, Juan Antonio San Epifanio, and Pablo Laso. The most famous deceased Spanish basketball players include Fernando Martín Espina. As of April 2024, 50 new Spanish basketball players have been added to Pantheon including Pau Gasol, Juan Antonio San Epifanio, and Pablo Laso.

Living Spanish Basketball Players

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Deceased Spanish Basketball Players

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Newly Added Spanish Basketball Players (2024)

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