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, 38 of which were born in Spain. This makes Spain the birth place of the 5th most number of Basketball Players behind Lithuania, and Croatia.

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 50.56, 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 back-to-back in 2009 and 2010. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2002 with the Memphis Grizzlies, being the first non-American player to have won that award. He is regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time and is also considered as 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), the Chicago Bulls (2014–2016), the San Antonio Spurs (2016–2019), and the 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 MVP of 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 Pablo Laso

2. Pablo Laso (b. 1967)

With an HPI of 49.73, Pablo Laso is the 2nd 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

3. Juan Carlos Navarro (b. 1980)

With an HPI of 46.18, Juan Carlos Navarro is the 3rd 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 Fernando Martín Espina

4. Fernando Martín Espina (1962 - 1989)

With an HPI of 46.02, Fernando Martín Espina is the 4th 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 Emiliano Rodríguez

5. Emiliano Rodríguez (b. 1937)

With an HPI of 45.64, 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 Antonio San Epifanio

6. Juan Antonio San Epifanio (b. 1959)

With an HPI of 45.48, Juan Antonio San Epifanio is the 6th most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 24 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 Ricky Rubio

7. Ricky Rubio (b. 1990)

With an HPI of 45.45, Ricky Rubio is the 7th most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 42 different languages.

Ricard Rubio Vives (born 21 October 1990) is a Spanish professional basketball player who last played for FC Barcelona of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. Rubio became the youngest player ever to play in the Spanish ACB League on 15 October 2005, at age 14. He made his EuroLeague debut on 24 October 2006, a few days after turning 16, making him one of the youngest players to play in the EuroLeague. On 25 June 2009, Rubio was drafted with the fifth pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, making him the first player born in the 1990s to be drafted by an NBA team. The Timberwolves had an agreement in principle with his Spanish team, DKV Joventut, to buy out his contract, but Rubio backed out of the deal. On 31 August 2009, Joventut traded the rights to Rubio to FC Barcelona, and Rubio signed a six-year contract with FC Barcelona the following day. In 2011, Rubio joined the Timberwolves, and spent six seasons in Minnesota before being traded to the Utah Jazz in June 2017. He signed with the Phoenix Suns in July 2019, before returning to Minnesota in 2020. Rubio was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2021, but was dealt to the Indiana Pacers a month after suffering a season ending ACL injury in December. In August 2023, Rubio announced he was taking a break from the sport to prioritise his mental health. On 4 January 2024, Rubio announced that he would be retiring from the NBA.

Photo of Marc Gasol

8. Marc Gasol (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 44.95, Marc Gasol is the 8th most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 44 different languages.

Marc Gasol Sáez (Catalan: [ˈmaɾɡ ɡəˈzɔl], Spanish: [ˈmaɾk gaˈsol]; born 29 January 1985) is a Spanish former professional basketball player who is the president of Bàsquet Girona of the Liga ACB. The center is a two-time All-NBA Team member and a three-time NBA All-Star. He was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2013, and won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. Gasol was drafted 48th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA draft. After having his rights traded to Memphis in February 2008 in a deal that sent his older brother Pau Gasol to the Lakers, he signed with the Grizzlies and remained with the franchise until being traded to Toronto in 2019. He rejoined the Lakers in 2020 for one season. Gasol has been a regular member of the Spain national team since 2006. He has won two Olympic silver medals and two FIBA Basketball World Cup titles. In the EuroBasket, he has won two titles, a silver medal, and two bronze medals.

Photo of Juan Antonio Corbalán

9. Juan Antonio Corbalán (b. 1954)

With an HPI of 43.19, Juan Antonio Corbalán is the 9th most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 18 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 Rudy Fernández

10. Rudy Fernández (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 43.18, Rudy Fernández is the 10th most famous Spanish Basketball Player.  His biography has been translated into 33 different languages.

Rodolfo "Rudy" Fernández Farrés (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈruði feɾˈnandeθ]; born 4 April 1985) is a Spanish former professional basketball player who spent the majority of his career for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He is a 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall swingman. He is a three-time All-EuroLeague Team selection and won the EuroLeague title in 2015, 2018 and 2023. During his stint in the National Basketball Association (NBA), he was an NBA All-Rookie Second Team member. Fernández represents the senior Spain national team internationally. He has won two FIBA World Cup titles, in 2006 and 2019, two Olympic silver medals in 2008 and 2012, as well as a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He also won four EuroBasket titles in 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2022, a silver medal in 2007, and a bronze medal in 2013. Fernández earned an All-EuroBasket Team selection in 2009.

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, Pablo Laso, and Juan Carlos Navarro. The most famous deceased Spanish basketball players include Fernando Martín Espina. As of April 2024, 12 new Spanish basketball players have been added to Pantheon including Roger Grimau, Jordi Villacampa, and Fernando Arcega.

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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