The Toronto Raptors announced this Thursday the signing of Spanish power forward Juancho Hernangómez for one year, that he was a free agent since his contract with the Utah Jazz expired on June 30.
Hernangómez arrives at the Ratpors after a difficult season in which he played consecutively in the Memphis Grizzlies, the Boston Celtics, the San Antonio Spurs and finally in the Utah Jazz.
Hernángomez began playing in the NBA in 2016 from the Madrid team Estudiantes. His brother Willy Hernangómez plays center for the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Raptors announced the signing of 26-year-old Hernangomez in a statement that did not disclose the financial details of the deal.
One of Hernangómez’s new teammates on the Raptors, and a rising star in the NBA, center Scottie Barnes, reacted to the announcement of the signing with a funny message on Instagram in which he calls Bo Cruz.
Bo Cruz is the character that Hernangómez plays in the film “Hustle” by American actor and director Adam Sandler, which was recently released on Netflix.
Since days ago the chain ESPN announced the existence of negotiations between Hernangómez and the Raptors The announcement of the signing of the Spanish player was expected.
In the last two years, the Raptors, who won the NBA in 2019 when they had Spaniards Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka in their ranks, as well as the coach of the Spanish men’s basketball team, Sergio Scariolo, on the coaching staff, are in a process of rebuilding your template.
The Canadian team is the most “Spanish” team in NBA history. Since they began playing in the American professional league in 1995, the Raptors have had the services of five Spanish players in addition to including Scariolo in their coaching staff.
Before Hernangomez, Gasol y IbakaJosé Calderón and Jorge Garbajosa played for the Raptors.
Calderón from Extremadura is the one who opened the door for Spanish players in the Toronto team. He came to the Raptors in August 2005 from TAU Vitoria and remained with the team until 2013.
Related news
In 2006 the Raptors signed forward Garbajosa who played with the Canadians until 2008.
The NBA team that is closest to the Raptors in terms of the number of Spaniards in its ranks are the Portland Trail Blazers, in which Sergio Rodríguez, Rudy Fernández, Víctor Claver and Fernando Martín played at different times.