Back in the 2016–17 season, Spain reached its all-time high for NBA representation, with 11 players on league rosters. That number gradually declined over the years until it dropped to just one player —Santi Aldama— during the 2024–25 campaign. Spanish basketball, however, may finally have reached a turning point. After having two representatives in the recently completed season (Aldama and Hugo González), the country has now seen three of its prospects selected in the NBA Draft, something that had only happened once before, in 2009, when Ricky Rubio, Víctor Claver and Sergio Llull all heard their names called.
The selections of Aday Mara (No. 12, Oklahoma City Thunder), Sergio De Larrea (No. 25, Los Angeles Lakers, later moved to the Dallas Mavericks through a trade involving the New York Knicks), and Baba Miller (No. 36, Los Angeles Clippers) represent a major boost for Spain’s new generation. Expectations are high for a class that already proved its potential by winning the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2023, with both De Larrea and Miller playing key roles under head coach Dani Miret, now in charge at Joventut Badalona.
Throughout this week, Skweek will introduce these three young talents, players on whom much of Spain’s hopes for rebuilding the national team now rest. After dominating European basketball for a decade and a half, Spain has entered a more difficult period, missing out on medals in each of the last three major international tournaments.
Of the three future NBA players, Sergio De Larrea’s story may be the most unusual.
Despite recently winning the ACB title with Valencia Basket, De Larrea spent much of his development outside the traditional elite system in Spain, even though his physical tools and basketball talent were evident from an early age. That’s highly uncommon right now in Spain… and certainly not because major clubs lacked interest.
Born in Valladolid on December 4, 2005, De Larrea spent most of his formative years outside a professional club structure, developing instead under the umbrella of his school, San Agustín.
Even at a young age, his skills and physical gifts jumped out immediately to anyone watching. Basketball itself had long been a central pillar within his family, and that ultimately became a key factor in shaping his future.
De Larrea’s father, an amateur player in his day, happened to be a longtime on-court rival of Chechu Mulero, Valencia Basket’s sporting director until the summer of 2023, now holding the same role at Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana.
Even while remaining somewhat “hidden” within the school system, De Larrea quickly began attracting attention from several of Spain’s top clubs. Alongside Valencia Basket, both Baskonia and Casademont Zaragoza were seriously interested in bringing him in.
In fact, Valladolid’s geographical proximity to Vitoria and Zaragoza seemed like a disadvantage for Valencia. But when Mulero first saw ‘Larry’, as he is affectionately known, during a Spanish youth national team training camp, he immediately wanted to pursue him.
His long, slender frame stood out right away, and Valencia soon presented itself as the ideal destination for the teenager’s next steps. The family, however, remained firm in its decision: Sergio would not leave Valladolid before turning 16.
Looking back, that decision appears to have made perfect sense, and not only for his personal stability. It may also have allowed him to develop the creativity that has already become one of his trademarks in EuroLeague and Liga Endesa. Had he moved earlier and started playing consistently against older and physically stronger competition, perhaps some of that freedom and imagination would have been harder to cultivate.
Even while staying with his hometown team, Valencia had already begun investing in his future. During his final season in Valladolid, the point guard started working with a strength coach provided by the club, despite Valencia not yet being fully certain he would eventually join them.
Not long afterward, on January 11, 2023, at only 17 years old, De Larrea made his EuroLeague debut against Anadolu Efes.
He represents a profile Spanish basketball has rarely —if ever— produced. Standing at 6-foot-6 (1.97m), he is one of the tallest lead guards the country has ever developed. That size, combined with his creativity, court vision and competitiveness, allowed him to earn meaningful minutes at Valencia from a very young age. That role also gave him enough confidence to turn down NCAA opportunities, convinced that he already held an important place within his club’s project.
Away from basketball, De Larrea also began pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering, further highlighting an above-average level of intelligence beyond the court.
Step by step, the Valladolid native established himself as one of Spain’s most promising young players. Before capturing the U19 world title, he had already represented Spain in another World Cup final at U17 level —this time alongside Mara, although not Miller—.
Then, in 2025, he earned a place in Sergio Scariolo’s senior national team squad for EuroBasket, forming an extremely young backcourt partnership with Mario Saint-Supèry, now at Gonzaga University. And he was far more than a developmental addition. Across five tournament games, De Larrea averaged over 22 minutes per contest, taking another significant step toward top-level basketball.
Now, with a rebuilding Dallas Mavericks team where Cooper Flagg is expected to become the franchise centerpiece, and with head coach Dustin May seemingly eager to implement an up-tempo style of play, De Larrea may have a genuine opportunity to carve out minutes sooner rather than later.
His ability to play at different speeds is already well established. He adapted to the slower, more controlled style under Scariolo and Spain while also thriving within Pedro Martínez’s high-paced system at Valencia.
Although he still has room for physical development, size certainly won’t be an issue during his transition to the NBA.
He’s also a better shooter than many scouting reports have historically given him credit for, hovering around 40 percent from three-point range on the European line.
His most recent season included a little bit of everything: he was named Supercopa MVP as Valencia opened the year with a trophy, later saw his role in Pedro Martínez’s rotation decrease, and eventually fought his way back to become a key contributor in Valencia’s run to the EuroLeague Final Four and ACB championship. This is why, in many ways, his final season before crossing the Atlantic became an accelerated masterclass.
For years, Sergio De Larrea may have remained hidden at San Agustín, away from the spotlight. Now, everybody sees him. He is one of the brightest emerging talents in Spanish basketball… and a player who appears ready to stay at the highest level for years to come.
