By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Juancho Hernangomez was sent to the San Antonio Spurs via a three-team trade earlier this week, following a short stint with the Boston Celtics, and recalled learning about it in an interview with the San Antonio Express News’ Tom Orsborn.
“It’s a crazy story”, Hernangomez said about how he was notified about the trade. “I was at dinner (Tuesday night) and I didn’t have my phone because somebody stole it after the Philly game”.
“My brother (New Orleans Pelicans big man Willy Hernangomez) had tried to reach me. He was like, ‘Oh, good luck on your new team. It’s going to be awesome.’ I told him like, ‘What? Where am I going?’ He said San Antonio, and I was really happy. It’s a great opportunity for me”, recalls Hernangomez.
In the Spurs, Hernangomez will also re-unite with big man Jakob Poeltl, whom he had met during his time with Estudiantes in Spain.
“I met him when we were like 16”, said the Spanish forward. “I was playing for with Estudiantes, and he came to try out for our team. I said, ‘Coach, we’ve got to get him here to try to win the national championship for under 18.’ But he came to America and went to college and now we are here together. He has done a great job. He knows how to play. It’s going to be fun.”
Hernagomez, a reported target of Real Madrid for next season, also discussed what didn’t work during his time with the Celtics.
“It was a tough time,” he said. “I feel like I could have helped the team. I was ready for the opportunity, I was really excited to play for Boston, but it didn’t work out as everybody thought. But no regrets. It is what it is. I tried to help with the young guys. They have a lot of talent, I tried to be a good teammate there and do everything I could. It was a great experience. Great group of guys, great talent, but it wasn’t the right time for me. There wasn’t space for me”.
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