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Juan Núñez and Juancho Hernangomez
Juan Núñez and Juancho Hernangomez
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Juan Núñez may be the next Ricky Rubio.

He took Ricky Rubio’s spot for the World Cup and had a great impact on the Spanish team.

He is 19 years old and was the MVP of many games, like the one against Brazil. Juan Núñez is a professional basketball player who has played for over 9 years. 

He started playing handball when he was little and decided to play basketball for Alcorcon Basket Club when he was ten. He also played for Real Madrid a couple of years ago and is currently playing for a German team.

Núñez started being an option for the Spanish team to play in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but he proved in the game against Slovenia that he is enough to play as a starter.

Núñez showed everybody that he is a good point guard. Núñez played for Ricky Rubio on the team, and he did as well as Rubio would do it. 

He did what seemed impossible: make people forget about Rubio on the court.

Núñez played his best in every game, put much effort on the court, and made everyone proud of him. Núñez’s regular season averages are thirteen points, four rebounds, six assists, and 3 steals per game, which is good for a 19-year-old boy.   

Alejandro Araujo, his teammate when he was ten, said, “I’m so happy about him playing professionally, and I hope he gets further than anyone else. I’m proud that he played with me, and I want him to be better than Rubio or at least like him, and he will get it with hard work.”

Javier Menéndez, his first coach, added, “I was impressed when he started practicing for the team. He showed superiority to others. In his first game, we won by 47 points to the winner from the year before, which was crazy because it was his first time playing.” 

That year, the team won all the playoff games , were the champions, and gave Alcorcon Basket their first winning title in history. 

Parejo, his second coach, said, “he has everything to shine, and I  strongly believe that he can be the next Ricky Rubio.”

Juan Núñez and his team in the Alcorcon Basket Club

Scariolo, the Spanish basketball coach, said, “Núñez is one of the team’s pillars for the future, but I will not be hypocritical. Some circumstances have made it possible for him to be on the team with a main role.” Regarding Rubio’s absence, Sacriolo also said that the process was accelerated.

Still, there is no doubt that Núñez is destined to be the team leader in the future. He has a mentality to learn to improve. 

Núñez said, “My goal is to work to be better and get to the highest level.”

Núñez is coming off winning Germany’s easy Credit BBL with Ratiopharm Ulm and is looking toward the 2024 NBA draft.

He has been on the NBA radar for a few years, but he decided not to enter the 2023 NBA draft. He said he would rather wait a year until he is more ready and prepared.

So, will Núñez be at Rubio’s level? 

This seems impossible, but most people believe he will be at least as good as Rubio with more years of experience, hard work, and many hours of practice.

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