Shortly after arriving in Spain, I noticed a very interesting phenomenon while watching sports: the Spanish sports scene seems to have a lot of “bands of brothers,” especially on the basketball court. Several pairs of brothers have not only brought glory to their country together but have also made a name for themselves in the NBA, the world’s top basketball league. This isn’t very common in other countries, so today I’d like to talk about a few of the Spanish basketball brotherhoods I know of!
The Gasol Dynasty: Pau & Marc Gasol
When talking about Spanish basketball brothers, the Gasol brothers are an unavoidable monument. The older brother, Pau Gasol, and the younger, Marc Gasol, are both NBA champions, a unique achievement for brothers in NBA history. Although both brothers have now retired, during their years on the national team, they were practically Spain’s “Great Wall” in the paint. The older brother, Pau, was known for his all-around skills and fluid offense; the younger, Marc, was a top-tier playmaker and defender, earning him the nickname “Big White Bear.” Together, they won countless honors for Spain and are undisputed legends.
The New Generation: The Hernangómez Brothers
After the Gasol brothers, the Hernangómez brothers have taken up the mantle. The older brother, Guillermo “Willy” Hernangómez, and the younger, Juan “Juancho” Hernangómez, have also played in the NBA. Many people, even those familiar with legends like Pau Gasol, might be more familiar with the younger brother Juancho, because he starred in the Adam Sandler basketball movie ‘Hustle’, playing the main character “Bo Cruz”. The two brothers shone at the 2022 EuroBasket, with older brother Willy even winning the tournament’s MVP award, leading Spain to an unexpected championship and perfectly carrying on the team spirit of Spanish basketball.
Here’s a simple comparison of these two most famous pairs of brothers to give you a clearer idea of their prowess:
| Name | Born | Position | Key Team Honors |
|---|
| Pau Gasol | 1980 | Power Forward/Center | 2x NBA Champion, 2006 World Cup Champion |
| Marc Gasol | 1985 | Center | 1x NBA Champion, 2019 World Cup Champion |
| Willy Hernangómez | 1994 | Center | 2022 EuroBasket Champion & MVP, 2019 World Cup Champion |
| Juancho Hernangómez | 1995 | Forward | 2019 World Cup Champion, 2022 EuroBasket Champion |
Besides these two pairs, which feature stars like Marc Gasol, the Spanish basketball scene has had other brother acts, such as the Reyes brothers from an earlier era. This tradition of “sporting families” is really interesting. Besides basketball, which even has its own Spanish Slam Dunk Contest, do you know of any other famous brother or sister combinations in other Spanish sports? Feel free to discuss in the comments below!
