By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Juan Nunez was officially welcomed by FC Barcelona on Friday.
After medicals, the 20-year-old point guard inked a three-year contract, the team announced.
Earlier in the offseason, he was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 36th overall pick of the 2024 NBA draft and later traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Holding his NBA rights, the Spurs stashing the youngster in Europe for at least the 2024-25 season led him to the Catalonia powerhouse.
Following two years at ratiopharm Ulm, Nunez was projected to sign with Barca. A youth product of Real Madrid, his new team reportedly paid a buyout to its archrival to complete the transfer.
Joining Justin Anderson and Kevin Punter, he is the third summer signing for Barcelona, besides Joan Penarroya hired as the new head coach. He will be back in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague following ten appearances with Los Blancos in the 2021-22 installment of Europe’s premier club continental competition.
After being crowned easyCredit BBL champion in his first campaign with Ulm, he averaged 9.4 points, 4.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per contest over 35 appearances in the 2023-24 edition of Germany’s top-flight division. He added 11.0 points over four games played in the BBL-Pokal. In the BKT EuroCup, he went for 10.8 points, 5.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per contest over 15 appearances.
At the international level, Nunez was promoted to the senior national team of Spain and featured in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. This summer help his country advance through the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia to the Olympic Games. However, he was cut from the 12-player roster for the Olympics.