Basketballenthusiastsfrom Argentina received more great news. The 2020/21 NBA season wasalreadyspecial for them with Facundo Campazzoperforming for theDenver Nuggets,beforeGabriel Deck signed forthe Oklahoma City Thunder, andLuca Vildozajoinedthe New York Knicks. Ahead ofthe 2021-22season,Leandro Bolmarohas agreed to a four-year deal withMinnesota Timberwolves.
From watching a couple of seasons without any compatriotsin the league, the Argentinians will now have the opportunity of supporting four of themsimultaneously. Campazzo’s arrival to Denver in 2020 brought manyexpectations, and Deck’s addition meanta huge boosttotheir excitement. A few weeks later, Vildoza joinedthe party to feature for the Big Appleside.
With Bolmaro making his way into the tournament, he’ll become the 16thArgentineplayer to appear in the NBA. Here, take a look at the complete list of these basketballers,whichManu Ginobili headlines.
16 – Leandro Bolmaro
Leandro Bolmaro in action with the Argentina national team in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. (Getty)
15 – Luca Vildoza
Luca Vildoza joins the Knicks before the 2020/21 NBA playoffs (Getty).
14 – Gabriel Deck
Gabriel Deck has already made his NBA debut with Oklahoma (Getty).
The landingof Gabriel Deckwas a long-awaited one for fans who followed him from his first steps at the Argentine’s top division. He made his pro debut at Quimsa in 2010 with only 15 years of age.From then on, he had an amazing rise in the national league, which he won for the first timein the 2014/15 campaign.
Later, he moved to San Lorenzo for the 2016/17 season ina huge step forwardinhis career. He won two back-to-backchampionships there, being named the Finals MVPtwiceand the league’s MVPin the second one. Moreover, he was also crowned with San Lorenzo in the 2018 FIBA Americas League, in which he was selected as the tournament’s MVP.
After such outstanding performances, ‘Tortu’ signed with Real Madrid. There, he won three Spanish Supercups, one Liga ACB, and another Copa del Rey. Deck has also featured for the Argentina national team, winning the gold medal in the 2019 Pan American Gamesand finishing as runner-up at the FIBA World Cup held in China that same year.
13 – Facundo Campazzo
Facundo Campazzo, the other Argentine currently playing in the NBA (Getty).
A much more experienced player, Facundo Campazzois currentlyliving his first season in the NBAwith the Denver Nuggets. Aftera long career that began in his country and continued in Spain, ‘Facu’ is taking advantage of every minute of action he gets, even though they aren’ttoo much.
After an extremely successful stint at Argentine team Peñarol, the point guard spent many years with Real Madrid, even though that span was halted when he moved on loan to Murcia. Having performed incredibly in that team, he won a place back in the Spanish giants, where he went on to have a better spellwith ten trophies.Campazzo has been a figure in thenational teamand deservedly earned a place in the NBA.
12 – Patricio Garino
Garino had a short spell in the NBA but worthy of living (Getty).
Garino’stime at the NBA didn’t last long, but he fulfilled the dream that any basketball player would have of making it to such a big stage. He started from scratch with George Washington University in collegebasketball,and then took part in the 2016 preseason with San Antonio Spurs. Later, he joined Austin in the G-Leagueand finally accomplished his main goal of reaching the NBA with Orlando Magic, where he played five gamesat the end of the 2016/17 season.
11 – Nicolás Laprovittola
Nicolas Laprovittola trying to score in one of his NBA games (Getty).
The point guard earned a spotwith the San Antonio Spurs for the 2016/17 seasonand featured alongside the likes of Manu Ginobili in his short span in the NBA. He played 18 games, averaging 3.3 points per game, 1.6 assists per game, and 0.6 rebounds per game.
10 – Juan IgnacioSánchez
Juan Ignacio Sanchez, one of the first Argentines in the NBA (Getty).
The point guard was one of the first Argentinian players to land at the NBA, making an important step for that country’s basketball and leading the way for the ones who arrived later. Sánchez got into the league after playing college basketball with Temple University. However, he couldn’t perform at his bestat the elite competition in the US.
9 – Rubén Wolkowyski
Ruben Wolkowyski in a game against the Miami Heat (Getty).
The other Argentine who made it into the NBA for the first time simultaneously with Sánchez. Wolkowyski played his rookie season withthe Seattle SuperSonics, then moved to Boston Celtics, buthe didn’t last long there.
8 – Nicolás Brussino
Nicolás Brussino in Atlanta Hawks’ Media Day (Getty).
The small forward jumped from the Argentine Liga Nacional directly to the NBA, where he amassed54 games with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2016/17 season, although having few minutes of playing time. His following season in the US with Atlanta Hawks didn’t work out well and he was releasedafter four matches.
7 – Walter Herrmann
Walter Herrmann in his impressive first season with Charlotte (Getty).
The ‘Conde’ played a huge part in Argentina’s gold medal at the 2004 Olympic GamesinAthensand had a good first season withthe Charlotte Bobcats in 2006/07 NBA season, averaging almost 10 PPG. He was named as Rookie of the Month once, and his one-year contract was extended for another campaign, although he moved to Detroit Pistons then, and played there until 2009.
6 – Pablo Prigioni
Despite his age, Prigioni enjoyed a good career in the NBA (Getty).
Despite he landed at the NBA as the oldest rookieever, making his debut at 35 years of age, Prigioni played a part for the New York Knicks fora bit more than two seasons. The veteran point guardproved to be a usefulasset for them, and then he showed it againwith Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers.
5 – Fabricio Oberto
Fabricio Oberto with the San Antonio Spurs (Getty).
After playing seven years abroad in Greece and Spain, Oberto signed with San Antonio Spurs in 2005 to join his compatriot Manu Ginóbili. Both of them went on to win the 2007 NBAchampionship, becoming the only two Argentinian players that won at least a ring so far – Manu then claimed more.
Even though he didn’t playthe role he had at Spain before, Oberto earned an important place in Spurs’ roster, which included many other superstars. He then played for Washington Wizardsin the 2009/10 season andthe following year moved to Portland, butheartconditionsforced him to step outsoon.
4 – Carlos Delfino
Carlos Delfino in his first year in Detroit (Getty).
Another historic member of thenational team, Delfino became the first Argentine to be selected on the first round of the NBA Draft with the 25th pick by the Detroit Pistons. Four seasons later, he moved to Milwaukee Bucks with a remarkable improvement in his game, and then spent one campaign featuring for the Houston Rockets,where he arguably reached his highest level.
3 – Andrés Nocioni
Nocioni played a bit more than four years with the Bulls (Getty).
Nocioni landed in the NBA in 2004 to begin a four-and-a-half-year spell with the Chicago Bulls, where he earned respect and fans grown fond of him. His second team in the league were the Sacramento Kings, and he later signed with the Philadelphia 76ers to wrap up eight great seasons at basketball’s greatest competition.
2 – Luis Scola
Luis Scola became a beloved player for Rockets’ fans (Getty).
Luifa had to wait to make his NBA debut for a while, as he was selectedat the 56th pick of the 2002 Draft and finally took the court five years later, and even with another team. San Antonio Spurs drafted him at first, but his first minutes in the league were withthe Houston Rockets, whichbecame Scola’s home for five seasons, and the place where he played at his best.
In each of those campaigns, the power forward averaged at least 10 PPG. He kept on shining at the top level despite his age, and the Argentina idol then featured for Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and Brooklyn Nets. With 743 games played, Luis Scola is thesecond Argentinewith themostNBA appearances.
1 – Emanuel Ginóbili
Manu became a Spurs legend and his legacy will live forever in the NBA (Getty).
The first name that comes up to mind when thinking about Argentines at basketball’s top competition. The greatest Argentinian to ever play in the NBA, Manu becamea legend not only in his country but in San Antonio Spurs as well. His résumé speaks by itself: Four NBA rings, a two-time NBA All-Star, member of the iconic ‘Big Three’ alongside the likes of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, and 16 consecutive seasons playing only with the Spurs.
He inspired countlesscompatriots during his successful stint at the basketballelite competition and has been constantly praised not only for his talent but for his sportsmanship too. A role model for athletes, Manu Ginóbili’s name will live forever in San Antonio’s history, who retired his iconic No. 20 jersey, being the only Argentinian to date to be honored with such recognition.
