By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
When you are playing basketball for 21 years, it means that you really got game. And Juan Carlos “La Bomba’ Navarro was one of the deadliest scorers to ever appear in European basketball.
Together with his friend Pau Gasol, he created the renaissance of Spanish basketball. They dominated on the junior level and they did it again on both sides of the Atlantic. Contrary to Gasol, Navarro preferred to return to Europe, even if he proved during his one season in Memphis that he belonged to the NBA.
He made the right choice for him. No other player has achieved what he did with the jersey of Barcelona and he retired as the all-time leading scorer of the modern EuroLeague era. What makes him great? Just watch…
2006 – EuroLeague
Juan Carlos Navarro recorded a EuroLeague career-high of 32 points leading FC Barcelona Winterthur over Zalgiris Kaunas, 86-85, in February 2006.
This road game remained his best performance in the competition.
2006 – FIBA World Cup
With Greece beating the USA in the semifinals, Spain had a chance for the gold. However, with Pau Gasol injured in the semifinal, anything seemed possible.
Juan Carlos Navarro scored 2o points and the Spaniards dominated on the way to an easy 70-47 win and to the top of the basketball world.