End of July, Juancho Hernangomez made the decision to return to Europe, five months after being cut by the Raptors. Unable to find a team in the NBA, he signed up for two seasons with Panathinaikos, seven years after setting down his bags across the Atlantic.
A difficult choice, but necessary at this stage of his career…
“ I didn’t have a concrete offer, a real interest », recalls the 28-year-old Spaniard, from Eurohoops. “ I think my time in the NBA was over and I have no regrets about it. I did my best and really gave 100%, every day. Another challenge ends for me, which motivates me to work hard and improve, because the Euroleague is very, very complicated. »
Surprise departure of the Raptors
Within the Greek club, author of an XXL recruitment, Juancho Hernangomez will try to bounce back by benefiting from a more important role, so as to forget for good the disappointment – digested – linked to his departure from Toronto.
“ It surprised me when I was cut, because I was very good in the locker room, a great teammate, I worked hard every day “, remembers the 15th choice of the 2016 Draft. “ But it was explained to me that [j’avais été coupé] for financial reasons and because we were looking for something else on the bench. I have no regrets, because that’s how the NBA works, and when you understand it, it gets easier. I’ve been transferred too many times, I’ve signed good contracts, I’ve been cut… »
“ I don’t think about the NBA anymore »
Despite this, Juancho Hernangomez (5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds career average) readily admits that he will not miss one aspect of the NBA…
“ It was really hard being transferred to San Antonio and then Utah in the space of two weeks. », he declares, in relation to this instability which permanently reigns in the United States. “ I played very well at Jazz and I finished that season playing minutes in the playoffs… But such is life, there are ups and downs, you have to continue and fight. »
In the event of a successful move to Panathinaikos, could Juancho Hernangomez then be tempted by a new dance in the NBA?
“ I don’t think about the NBA anymore “, however assures the executioner of France in the final of Eurobasket 2022. “ All my energy, focus and thoughts are directed [vers le Panathinaïkos], to improve myself as a player and help the team achieve its goals. I don’t know where I will be next season or even where I will be tomorrow. You don’t know what’s going on in life, so you just have to enjoy the moment, the process and take things day by day. »
| Juancho Hernangomez | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | DEN | 62 | 14 | 45.1 | 40.7 | 75.0 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 4.9 |
| 2017-18 | DEN | 25 | 11 | 38.7 | 28.0 | 83.3 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 3.3 |
| 2018-19 | DEN | 70 | 19 | 43.9 | 36.5 | 76.7 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 5.8 |
| 2019-20 * | All Teams | 48 | 17 | 40.5 | 34.1 | 62.0 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 6.0 |
| 2019-20 * | DEN | 34 | 12 | 34.5 | 25.0 | 64.0 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 3.2 |
| 2019-20 * | MIN | 14 | 29 | 45.3 | 42.0 | 60.9 | 1.4 | 5.9 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 12.9 |
| 2020-21 | MIN | 52 | 17 | 43.5 | 32.7 | 61.9 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 7.2 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 40 | 11 | 41.5 | 34.8 | 55.9 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 3.3 |
| 2021-22 * | BOS | 18 | 5 | 18.5 | 16.7 | 66.7 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.1 |
| 2021-22 * | UTH | 17 | 18 | 50.7 | 43.8 | 47.6 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 6.2 |
| 2021-22 * | SAN | 5 | 10 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.4 |
| 2022-23 | TOR | 42 | 15 | 42.1 | 25.4 | 56.3 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.9 |
| Total | 339 | 16 | 42.8 | 34.2 | 67.6 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 5.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
