Juancho Hernangómez: Green Shoots or Coincidence?
The performance of Juancho Hernangómez, brother of Willy Hernangómez who is struggling to readjust to European basketball after years in the NBA, raises questions. While strongly linked to Barcelona, Juancho opted for the ambitious project of Panathinaikos.
Panathinaikos, behind their rival Olympiacos in recent years, appointed Ergin Ataman, a coach with two consecutive EuroLeague titles with Anadolu Efes, to lead their team. However, Ataman fell short last season by failing to reach the quarterfinals.
Juancho, determined to prove himself, faced a diminished role under Sergio Scariolo's guidance during the World Cup. He played only 13 minutes in the crucial match against Canada, which eliminated the Spanish national team from the quarterfinals. This was a significant contrast to his outstanding MVP performance in the 2022 EuroBasket final, where he scored 27 points, including 7/9 from beyond the arc, leading Spain to victory against France.
Unfortunately, things haven't gone smoothly for Juancho this summer. Even his younger sibling Andrea left Fairfield University to join Innova-tsn Leganés in the Liga Femenina Challenge.
In his debut EuroLeague season, Juancho has scored a mere 39 points thus far. Of those, 23 came in the first two games against Olympiacos and Bayern. While he impressed with a +25 efficiency rating in the Greek derby, which went into overtime, his combined ratings in other games amount to only +33.
Despite these challenges, including a clash with the fiery Ataman and a fractured finger that caused him to miss seven EuroLeague games, the Madrid native is starting to show signs of improvement.
During a Panathinaikos victory over Olimpia Milano, Juancho contributed seven points, seven rebounds, two assists, and achieved a +14 efficiency rating in 17 minutes. Was this a positive development or merely a coincidence? In another victory against Promitheas Patras, he scored 13 points, secured four rebounds, and achieved a +12 rating in 21 minutes.
Thus, the upcoming match against Crvena Zvezda could be a defining moment for Juancho Hernangómez. A strong performance would not only be great news for his family and team but could also catch the attention of coach Scariolo, as he assesses potential candidates for the Pre-Olympic tournament and the hypothetical Paris Olympics.
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