By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Lille, France – Spain guard Lorenzo Brown praised national team veteran Sergio Llull for his ability to easily hit tough shots at any moment of the game.
“I call him the most interesting guy in Spain,” Brown said after Spain’s win over Greece in Round 2 of the Olympic Games basketball tournament. “Because he can come down, knock the three to half and half court, and they can act like nothing’s happening. Great player. One of my favorite players in Spain, and one of my favorite players in Europe as well. So just to be out on the floor with him is an honor for me.”
Llull entered the game with Spain down 10 – 17 and scored 11 points over three minutes as his team went up 24 – 22 before closing halftime with a 49 – 35 lead.
He finished with 13 points and seven assists. Only Brown had more assists in the game with 10, to go with his seven points.
“When Sergio came out, he’s just had all the energy,” Brown said. “He’s shooting threes from anywhere he wants.”
“And Santi… Santi is a beast, man,” Brown added on Santi Aldama after the Memphis Grizzlies big man posted 19 points and 12 rebounds. “These guys are cutthroat, man. When it comes down to it and they’re ready to play, they’re ready to play, man,”
Brown was unable to play in the 2023 World Cup due to a shoulder injury. He now returned for a major competition after debuting in 2022 to lead Spain towards winning the EuroBasket title.
“Honestly, I couldn’t believe that we actually pulled it off,” Brown recalled on the EuroBasket. “There was so much speculation going on with the team. And like I said, that was probably the best part, just watching the confetti come down and actually winning that whole thing.”
“This year, I wanted to come in and play hard for these guys,” Brown said about his national team comeback. “And play hard for the coach ]Sergio Scariolo] to give me this opportunity to come out here and play with Spain.”
Photo credit: FIBA