By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Sports legends gathered once again in honor of legendary Juan Carlos Navarro whose retirement was announced a few weeks prior.
Not only basketball legends like Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio and retired Barcelona former captain Roger Grimau shared their admiration for “La Bomba”, but football icon Ronaldinho was present in Tuesday’s celebrations, confirming Navarro’s feedback on the sports community altogether!
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?@10Ronaldinho
??#GràciesNavarro pic.twitter.com/M5duFARyjS— Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) 25 Σεπτεμβρίου 2018
Another football great gave a speech for “La Bomba”. From a captain to a captain, legendary Carles Puyol was there to honor the fellow long-term Barcelona captain (just in a different sport!).
?? ¡De capitán a capitán!
?? De capità a capità!
?2⃣0⃣1⃣0⃣ @Carles5puyol pic.twitter.com/qnVG9Q1ct7— Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) 25 Σεπτεμβρίου 2018
The surprise of the night? NBA back-to-back champion Stephen Curry also bid his own goodbye to Navarro, mentioning how the latter made him want to copy his moves!
? @StephenCurry30 had something to say about la Bomba Navarro! ?
? ¡@StephenCurry30 tiene algo que decir sobre la Bomba Navarro! ?
? @StephenCurry30 tenia alguna cosa a dir sobre la Bomba Navarro! ?
??#GràciesNavarro pic.twitter.com/xDXE8bCELs— Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) 25 Σεπτεμβρίου 2018
Many of Navarro’s ex-teammates from Barcelona and from the Spanish national team attended the gala and also his last head coach, Svetislav Pesic, who was also on the bench when Navarro and Barcelona lifted their first EuroLeague title together in 2003, was in attendance. So was Xavi Pascual, who headed the 2010 EuroLeague title team, the club’s second, after flying in from Greece where he is coaching Panathinaikos.
The president of FC Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, announced that, in addition to his number 11 being retired in the near future, a statue of Navarro is being commissioned and will be placed outside of Palau Blaugrana.
Watch the full ceremony.