The struggle for minutes on the court is a real challenge for many talented players, and it’s an issue that Sergio Scariolo, the Spanish coach, has been highlighting for a while now. Among the top 50 players who spend the most time on the track in the Endesa League, only one Spanish player stands out – Santi Yusta, who averages 24:12 minutes per game, ranking 21st overall. Similarly, when looking at the top scorers, only Fran Guerra makes the cut, sitting in 42nd position with an average of 10.7 points. As for the most valued players, three Spanish athletes are on the list: Fran Guerra (22nd with 13.4), Jaime Pradilla (38th with 11.9), and Oriol Paulí (47th with 11.1). These statistics paint a clear picture: Spanish players are scarce in the ACB, and their importance is still relatively low.
Scariolo has been emphasizing the need for young players to mature and take on more responsibility. After the recent win against Belgium, he noted that the promising young players “have talent, but they still need to mature.” He also highlighted the progress they’re making, saying, “They’re starting to get minutes and have a presence on the court because they’re earning it, not because it’s being given to them.” This sentiment is echoed in the performances of players like Mario Saint-Supery, Hugo González, and Sergio de Larrea, who are all under 19 years old and already making a name for themselves in their respective teams. Saint-Supery averages 13:29 minutes in the Endesa League with Baxi Manresa, while González and de Larrea average 12:46 and 11:12 minutes with Real Madrid and Valencia Basket, respectively.
Becoming Key Players
The next step for these young players is to become référents for their clubs, players who can be trusted to stay on the court during critical moments. As Scariolo puts it, “They need to become players who, in the last five minutes, their team trusts to keep them on the court, to give them an action in which they have to create an advantage, to give them confidence, and that they can take a shot in important moments.” This is the level of responsibility that players like Juancho, Sergio Llull, and Santi Aldama have already achieved. Juancho, in particular, has become a key piece in Panathinaikos, averaging 24.7 minutes per game and consistently delivering high-quality performances.
However, the reality is that Spanish players are still underrepresented in top-tier competitions. Beyond Nikola Mirotic, who is consistently among the top players in points, minutes, and valuation, it’s difficult to find Spanish athletes in the upper echelons of the Euroleague. Even Juancho, who is having an outstanding season, ranks 58th in points, 27th in minutes, and 29th in valuation. The next Spanish player in the list is Brizuela, who is 80th in points, while Open is 105th in minutes, and Willy Hernangómez is 61st in valuation.
A Long-Term Process
Scariolo is keenly aware of the challenges that young Spanish players face, and he’s urging caution when it comes to expectations. “We must not lose a second to detect the improvements and changes in players’ status in their clubs, but neither should we anticipate too much by putting pressure and responsibility on them for which it’s not yet time,” he says. The coach emphasizes the importance of monitoring players’ progress closely, without putting undue pressure on them. By doing so, he believes that Spain is on the right track, but acknowledges that there’s still a long way to go. As he puts it, “I’m happy with the young players. We’re following everyone in an almost obsessive way, and the information offered by that detailed monitoring is that we’re on the right track, but it’s still a long process.”