GLIAC Men's BasketballMar 9, 2016 by Brett Pickert
Spanish Basketball Phenom Raül López Announces His Retirement
Spanish Basketball Phenom Raül López Announces His Retirement
Raul Lopez announced his retirement from basketball. The former Utah Jazz guard was one of the most influential figures in Spanish basketball.
Last week, one of the most influential players in Spanish basketball announced his retirement. Raül López, former point guard for the NBA's Utah Jazz, announced he'd hang up his sneakers at the end of this season of Liga Endesa, the top league in Spain.
For those unfamiliar with López, the Spanish point guard was touted as the next John Stockton for the Utah Jazz after he was drafted in the 1st round (24th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft. López's style of play was similar to Tony Parker and Steve Nash - he was a flashy scorer with passing flair in the open court.
López shot into the international spotlight at the FIBA U-19 Championships en route to a gold medal. One of López's teammates was NBA champion Pau Gasol. Both López and Gasol were selected in the same NBA Draft, Gasol going to Memphis. We all know what kind of NBA career Pau has had, but López had a different narrative.
López didn't sign his rookie contract until September of 2002 and ended up missing the 2002-03 season due to an ACL tear. After returning from injury, López took a backseat to starting point guard Carlos Arroyo. While playing second-string, López averaged 7.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game. Not earth-shattering, but it contributed to the Jazz's offensive game. A season later, López was traded to the Grizzlies in a five-team trade and later released.
Basketball didn't end for López in the NBA. He continued his respective career for numerous European clubs; Akasvayu Girona, Real Madrid, Khimki Moscow Region, and Bilbao Basket. During this time, López became a mentor for Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio on the Spanish National Team. López led teams that consisted of NBA starters such as Pau and Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez, Jose Calderon, and Rubio. These teams ended up getting the Silver Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Gold at the FIBA European Championships in 2009. Many of López's former teammates tweeted their thanks to the influential baller.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/rickyrubio9/status/705440054555054081" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/rudy5fernandez/status/705471648531611650" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
In addition to his former teammates, a plethora of fans tweeted their thanks to the Spanish guard.
López may not have had a Hall of Fame-caliber career due to injuries, but he'll be remembered as one of the leaders of the modern Spanish NBA invasion. Watch his highlights below.
For those unfamiliar with López, the Spanish point guard was touted as the next John Stockton for the Utah Jazz after he was drafted in the 1st round (24th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft. López's style of play was similar to Tony Parker and Steve Nash - he was a flashy scorer with passing flair in the open court.
López shot into the international spotlight at the FIBA U-19 Championships en route to a gold medal. One of López's teammates was NBA champion Pau Gasol. Both López and Gasol were selected in the same NBA Draft, Gasol going to Memphis. We all know what kind of NBA career Pau has had, but López had a different narrative.
López didn't sign his rookie contract until September of 2002 and ended up missing the 2002-03 season due to an ACL tear. After returning from injury, López took a backseat to starting point guard Carlos Arroyo. While playing second-string, López averaged 7.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game. Not earth-shattering, but it contributed to the Jazz's offensive game. A season later, López was traded to the Grizzlies in a five-team trade and later released.
Basketball didn't end for López in the NBA. He continued his respective career for numerous European clubs; Akasvayu Girona, Real Madrid, Khimki Moscow Region, and Bilbao Basket. During this time, López became a mentor for Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio on the Spanish National Team. López led teams that consisted of NBA starters such as Pau and Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez, Jose Calderon, and Rubio. These teams ended up getting the Silver Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Gold at the FIBA European Championships in 2009. Many of López's former teammates tweeted their thanks to the influential baller.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/rickyrubio9/status/705440054555054081" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/rudy5fernandez/status/705471648531611650" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
In addition to his former teammates, a plethora of fans tweeted their thanks to the Spanish guard.
López may not have had a Hall of Fame-caliber career due to injuries, but he'll be remembered as one of the leaders of the modern Spanish NBA invasion. Watch his highlights below.