Spain_men's_national_basketball_team

Spain men's national basketball team

Men's national basketball team representing Spain

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Spain women's national basketball team.

The Spain men's national basketball team (Spanish: Selección Española de Baloncesto) represents Spain in international basketball competitions. They are managed by the Spanish Basketball Federation, the governing body for basketball in Spain. Spain is the current European champion.

Quick Facts FIBA ranking, Joined FIBA ...

Spain

FIBA ranking

(1 March 2024)^[1]

Joined FIBA

1934

FIBA zone

FIBA Europe

National federation

FEB

Coach

Sergio Scariolo

Nickname(s)

La Roja (The Red One)
La ÑBA^[2]
La Familia (The Family)^[3]^[2]

Olympic Games

Appearances

Medals

Silver: (1984, 2008, 2012)

Bronze: (2016)

FIBA World Cup

Appearances

Medals

Gold: (2006, 2019)

EuroBasket

Appearances

Medals

Gold: (2009, 2011, 2015, 2022)

Silver: (1935, 1973, 1983, 1999, 2003, 2007)

Bronze: (1991, 2001, 2013, 2017)

Home

Away

First international

Spain 33–12 Portugal

(Madrid, Spain; 15 April 1935)

Biggest win

Spain 118–32 Libya

(Madrid, Spain; 9 May 1963)

Biggest defeat

Soviet Union 118–58 Spain

(Essen, West Germany; 12 September 1971)

Medal record

Olympic Games

	1984 Los Angeles	Team
	2008 Beijing	Team
	2012 London	Team
	2016 Rio de Janeiro	Team
FIBA World Cup
	2006 Japan
	2019 China
EuroBasket
	2009 Poland
	2011 Lithuania
	2015 France
	2022 Germany
	1935 Switzerland
	1973 Spain
	1983 France
	1999 France
	2003 Sweden
	2007 Spain
	1991 Italy
	2001 Turkey
	2013 Slovenia
	2017 Turkey
Mediterranean Games
	1955 Barcelona	Team
	1997 Bari	Team
	2001 Tunis	Team
	1951 Alexandria	Team
	1959 Beirut	Team
	1963 Naples	Team
	1987 Latakia	Team
	2005 Almería	Team

Spain has appeared 32 times at the EuroBasket, winning four gold medals, six silver medals, and four bronze medals. They have also competed at the Summer Olympics 13 times, with three silver medals and one bronze medal as their accomplishments. They have qualified for the FIBA World Cup 13 times, winning it twice, in 2006 and 2019.

Spain is currently ranked second in the FIBA World Ranking.^[4]

History

Olympic Games

When Spain qualified for the 1936 Summer Olympics, where basketball was part of the games for the first time, expectations were high for the runners-up of the 1935 EuroBasket. Unfortunately, as one of the favorites to win medals, Spain could not attend the Games due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War just days before the start of the event.

Spain's first Olympic success came at the 1984 Summer Olympics. The team made it all the way to the gold medal game, before losing to the United States (led by Patrick Ewing and featuring a young Michael Jordan).

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Spain reached the gold medal game for the second time. However, in a rematch of the 1984 Olympic final, Spain fell to the United States once more. This time led by Kobe Bryant and nicknamed the "Redeem Team". The Americans won after a remarkably close game 118–107. Four years later, at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the United States faced Spain in the Olympic final for the third time. The USA would go on to win gold again, by the score of 107–100, with Spain coming away with its third Olympic (and second straight) silver medal. During the 2016 Summer Olympics, Spain reached the bronze medal match against Australia, where they escaped with an narrow 89–88 victory.^[5]

FIBA World Cup

During the early years of the FIBA World Cup, Spain struggled to establish a steady presence as a competitor. Between 1950 and 1970, the national team only qualified once. Then, beginning in 1974, Spain developed into a serious competitor and regularly finished among the World Cup top performers in the competitions to follow.

At the 2006 FIBA World Cup, Spain achieved their greatest success in its history, as they defeated Greece in the final to capture their first World Cup title. Held at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, the game ended by the final score of 70–47.^[6] Furthermore, Pau Gasol was named the tournament MVP, while Jorge Garbajosa was selected to the All-Tournament team. Shortly afterwards, the team were awarded with the 2006 Prince of Asturias Award in Sports.

At the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Spain won their second World Cup title by defeating Argentina in the final by the score of 95–75.^[7] The spectacular play of Ricky Rubio during the tournament earned him the MVP, while Marc Gasol was named to the All-Tournament team. After this victory, Marc Gasol became the second player in tournament history to win the NBA title and the World Cup in the same year; with the other being Lamar Odom.^[8]^[9]

EuroBasket

The first game in the history of the selection was a qualifier for the EuroBasket 1935, where Spain defeated Portugal 33–12.^[10] This event, which was held in Geneva in the summer of 1935, was the first EuroBasket game in history. Spain went on to finish as runners-up in the tournament behind Latvia.

After coming in second in 1935, 1973, 1983, 1999, 2003, and 2007, Spain won their first continental championship in 2009; defeating Serbia to become European champions. The team repeated their success in 2011, taking out France in the final. At EuroBasket 2015, Spain once again reached the title game, and demolished Lithuania in the process 80–63.^[11] Two years after winning it all in 2015, Spain followed it up with another strong performance at EuroBasket 2017, defeating Russia to win the bronze medal match.^[12]^[13] It marked the fourth time Spain won bronze at the EuroBasket, as they also won it in 1991, 2001, and 2013.

Spain captured their fourth European title at the EuroBasket 2022, after defeating France in the final once again, a rematch of the 2011 title game.^[14]^[15] Additionally, center Willy Hernangómez was selected as tournament MVP.^[16]

Other events

Besides success at the "Big Three" events (Summer Olympic Games, FIBA World Cup, and EuroBasket) Spain has also had success at the Mediterranean Games, where it has won several medals: three gold, four silver and one bronze.

Medal record

The Spain national team's medal record through the years:

Olympic Games

Silver medals: 1984, 2008, 2012
Bronze medals: 2016

FIBA World Cup

Gold medals: 2006, 2019

EuroBasket

Gold medals: 2009, 2011, 2015, 2022
Silver medals: 1935, 1973, 1983, 1999, 2003, 2007
Bronze medals: 1991, 2001, 2013, 2017

Mediterranean Games

Gold medal: 1955, 1997, 2001
Silver medals: 1951, 1959, 1963, 1987
Bronze medals: 2005

Competitive record

For the national team's all-time results against all nations, see Spain national basketball team head to head.

More information World Cup, Qualification ...

FIBA World Cup

World Cup					Qualification
Year	Position	Pld	W	L	Pld	W	L
1950	9th	5	1	4	5	3	2
1954	Did not enter				Did not enter
1959	Did not enter				Did not enter
1963	Did not qualify				EuroBasket served as qualifiers
1967
1970
1974	5th	9	4	5
1978	Did not qualify
1982	4th	9	6	3
1986	5th	10	8	2	Qualified as host
1990	10th	8	5	3	EuroBasket served as qualifiers
1994	10th	8	5	3
1998	5th	9	7	2
2002	5th	9	7	2
2006		9	9	0
2010	6th	9	5	4
2014	5th	7	6	1	Qualified as host
2019		8	8	0	12	10	2
2023	9th	5	3	2	12	10	2
2027	To be determined				To be determined
Total	13/19	105	74	31	29	23	6

Olympic Games

Olympic Games					Qualifying
Year	Position	Pld	W	L	Pld	W	L
1936	w/o^A	2	0	2
1948	Did not enter
1952
1956
1960	11th	7	2	5	6	5	1
1964	Did not qualify				8	6	2
1968	7th	9	5	4	4	3	1
1972	11th	9	4	5	16	13	3
1976	Did not qualify				9	6	3
1980	4th	8	4	4	10	7	3
1984		8	6	2	9	8	1
1988	8th	8	4	4	10	7	3
1992	9th	7	3	4	Qualified as host
1996	Did not qualify				Did not qualify
2000	9th	6	2	4	Direct qualification
2004	7th	7	6	1
2008		8	6	2
2012		8	5	3
2016		8	5	3
2020	6th	4	2	2
2024	To be determined				To be determined
Total	13/20	99	54	45	72	55	17

Notes

^{^A} Spain withdrew due to Spanish Civil War.
FIBA considers two games as forfeited (walkover)^[17]^[18]

EuroBasket

EuroBasket					Qualification
Year	Position	Pld	W	L	Pld	W	L
1935		3	2	1	1	1	0
1937	Did not enter
1939
1946
1947
1949
1951
1953
1955
1957
1959	15th	7	3	4
1961	13th	7	5	2
1963	7th	9	5	4	2	2	0
1965	11th	9	4	5	3	2	1
1967	10th	9	3	6	2	1	1
1969	5th	7	4	3	4	4	0
1971	7th	7	3	4	5	4	1
1973		7	5	2	Qualified as host
1975	4th	7	4	3	Direct qualification
1977	9th	7	4	3	Direct qualification
1979	6th	7	3	4	8	7	1
1981	4th	9	6	3	Direct qualification
1983		7	5	2
1985	4th	8	5	3
1987	4th	8	4	4
1989	5th	5	3	2	6	5	1
1991		5	3	2	3	2	1
1993	5th	9	7	2	Direct qualification
1995	6th	9	5	4	6	5	1
1997	5th	9	6	3	Qualified as host
1999		9	5	4	10	10	0
2001		7	5	2	Direct qualification
2003		6	5	1	10	9	1
2005	4th	6	3	3	Direct qualification
2007		9	7	2	Qualified as host
2009		9	7	2	Direct qualification
2011		11	10	1
2013		11	7	4
2015		9	7	2
2017		9	8	1
2022		9	8	1	6	4	2
2025	To be determined				To be determined
Total	32/41	250	161	89	66	56	10

Results and fixtures

For a complete list of matches, see Spain national basketball team results and Spain national basketball team head to head.

Win Loss

2023

More information Madrid, Spain ...

4 August 2023 Friendly	Spain	87–57	Venezuela	Madrid, Spain
21:45 CEST (UTC+2)	Scoring by quarter: 29–20, 17–6, 15–9, 26–22
	Pts: J. Hernangómez 27 Rebs: Claver, Parra 5 Asts: Díaz, Núñez 6	Boxscore	Pts: Carrera, Sojo 11 Rebs: Sojo 4 Asts: Guillent 6	Arena: WiZink Center

Spain

Venezuela

More information Málaga, Spain ...

11 August 2023 Friendly	Spain	99–79	Slovenia	Málaga, Spain
21:30 CEST (UTC+2)	Scoring by quarter: 26–27, 25–14, 22–22, 26–16
	Pts: Aldama 18 Rebs: Aldama 7 Asts: Aldama 7	Boxscore	Pts: Dončić 17 Rebs: Tobey 8 Asts: Dončić 5	Arena: José María Martín Carpena Arena

Spain

Slovenia

More information Málaga, Spain ...

13 August 2023 Friendly	Spain	88–98	United States	Málaga, Spain
21:30 CEST (UTC+2)	Scoring by quarter: 28–26, 17–29, 27–18, 16–25
	Pts: Aldama 14 Rebs: J. Hernangómez 7 Asts: R. Fernández 6	Boxscore	Pts: Brunson 23 Rebs: Edwards 7 Asts: Haliburton 12	Arena: José María Martín Carpena Arena

Spain

v United States

More information Granada, Spain ...

17 August 2023 Friendly	Spain	80–850(OT)	Canada	Granada, Spain
21:30 CEST (UTC+2)	Scoring by quarter: 21–27, 23–13, 12–15, 17–18, Overtime: 7–12
	Pts: J. Hernangómez 12 Rebs: Garuba 8 Asts: Brizuela, R. Fernández 4	Boxscore	Pts: Gilgeous-Alexander 22 Rebs: Powell 12 Asts: Olynyk 6	Arena: Palacio Municipal de Deportes de Granada

Spain

v Canada

More information Granada, Spain ...

19 August 2023 Friendly	Spain	86–77	Dominican Republic	Granada, Spain
22:15 CEST (UTC+2)	Scoring by quarter: 18–21, 22–15, 28–24, 18–17
	Pts: Núñez 16 Rebs: Garuba 8 Asts: Garuba 7	Boxscore	Pts: Towns 20 Rebs: Delgado 7 Asts: Feliz, Montero 5	Arena: Palacio Municipal de Deportes de Granada