ZARAGOZA (Spain) - Some things are just meant to be.
In the Hernangomez family, basketball destiny was written from the very beginning, with Guillermo Hernangomez Heredero and Margarita Geuer passing on their basketball genes.
First came Willy, then Juancho, and finally Andrea. Family and basketball coming together.
Throughout their careers, all three have represented Spain at youth national-team level. Naturally, the first to make the jump to La Familia was the oldest of the three, back in 2014. For Willy, it has been a long journey.
"I would tell the kid who went to the national team for the first time to enjoy everything that is going to come," Willy Hernangomez told FIBA ahead of Window 4 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers.
"It’s incredible to be able to represent your country, wear your country’s colors, play, go to tournaments, and compete. Looking back now, 12 years later, after so many championships, medals, and games, I feel an enormous sense of pride. I feel privileged and fortunate," he followed.
He was lucky enough to be part of Spain's golden era, sharing the court with Marc and Pau Gasol, Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernandez, Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro, and Felipe Reyes. The list could go on and on.
"I learned so much from all of them. Now, part of my job is also to represent and pass on the values of La Familia to the whole new generation coming through. I think Spain has a young team with a huge amount of talent, and I’m sure they can bring us many more happy moments," Willy shared.
Indeed, he's the one leading the whole squad on the road to Qatar 2027, one year ahead of the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027. He will do so as co-captain of the national team, alongside his brother Juancho.
"It’s a huge sense of pride, honor, and happiness to be able to look back at all these years we’ve spent with the national team and to have had the opportunity for my brother and me to be captains," he said.
"There are countless hours of work, effort, and sacrifices behind it. Being captains of the national team now is a privilege and a responsibility that we try to handle as well as possible, above all through hard work and humility, and by showing the younger players what La Familia is all about," Willy followed.
It's a tradition embraced by the Hernangomez brothers through the lessons taught by their parents, both former basketball players. Margarita Geuer even won gold with Spain at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 1993.
"They have been fundamental to our development and growth. Our parents have always taught us from a very young age the values not only of basketball, but also of life: everything is achieved through a great deal of hard work, sacrifice, discipline, humility, teamwork, generosity, and empathy," he commented.
"They were also very demanding with us at times because they always wanted the best for us, but I truly believe that without my family’s support, we wouldn’t be the people or the players we are today," Willy said.
A new era for Spain, a new chapter for Willy
Willy Hernangomez and the Spanish national team have been living unforgettable chapters together.
Bronze medalists at the 2016 Olympic Games, gold at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, MVP and winner at FIBA EuroBasket 2022, and two more medals at FIBA EuroBasket 2015 (gold) and 2017 (bronze).
A national-team career everybody would dream of and give their all for. On the current roster, Spain can count on this kind of experience provided by the Hernangomez brothers, but also on bright stars of the future.
"I’m incredibly happy and very excited at the same time about the future the Spanish national team has with these players," Willy commented on a new wave of Spanish talented players.
Hugo Gonzalez, Baba Miller, Izan Almansa, Aday Mara, Sergio de Larrea, Mario Saint-Supery, Alvaro Cardenas. Just some of the names who are likely to become relevant and constant figures for Spanish basketball.
"They have tremendous talent and potential, huge desire to work, improve and compete. I think they have their whole future ahead of them. They have to be aware that it won’t be easy; they need to understand that there will also be very difficult moments and that they have to be mentally tough enough to overcome them," he said.
"Those experiences will make them better people and better players. It's very exciting, because they are players with so much talent and potential," the 32-year-old leader shared.
"They are all very young players who are going to become part of La Familia, and I’m sure they will bring us a lot of joy. I hope I can still be around them for many more years."
Among them is the one who will probably take Willy Hernangomez's spot under the rim once his national-team career heads towards its end. The Oklahoma City Thunder focused on his season with the Michigan Wolverines, who triumphed in the NCAA Championship Game, and selected him with the 12th pick in the NBA Draft.
"[Aday Mara] is a very special player. I’d say he’s unique. He gets better every day, he learns, he wants to work and listen, he’s very humble. On top of all of that, he's also a great teammate," Hernangomez commented.
"He knows that his future depends on his daily work and consistency, and that if he does that, the sky is the limit and he can get wherever he wants to go. He’s going to have his debut in Zaragoza, his hometown. I think he’s very happy, and probably a little nervous too," he said ahead of Spain-Portugal.
"But that’s what his teammates are here for: to help him, encourage him and, above all, make sure he enjoys it, because playing for the national team is something truly unique," he shared.
I have no doubt that Aday Mara is going to give a lot to the national team over the coming years. It’s entirely up to him. I’ll be there to help him, to work with him, and to teach him everything I was taught. I’ll try to enjoy this journey with him and help him as much as I possibly can.
The Spanish national team has always given opportunities to young players, and Willy Hernangomez knows it. In this regard, Chus Mateo has successfully followed Sergio Scariolo as head coach of La Familia.
"I’m extremely happy because I think he is a great coach, with a fantastic way of playing basketball, a great idea and philosophy. Above all, he has a team-first mentality, with an emphasis on working together, both defensively and offensively, on being unselfish and helping each other at both ends of the court," he said.
"Most importantly, he tries to make the most of every player’s strengths while using collective, team-based work to cover up the things that aren’t as strong," the 1994-born center followed.
Ever since he arrived, he has made it clear that this is a new project, a new national team. He brings a great sense of excitement.
"It’s a changing of the guard; there are a lot of new players, but I think this is the future. And the future of the national team undoubtedly goes hand in hand with Chus. So I’m very happy, very excited and eager to be able to work together for many years," Willy Hernangomez also commented on the Spanish head coach.
Following a 5-1 record in the First Round, losing only by two points (91-89) in a thriller against Georgia in Tbilisi, Spain will open their Second Round by hosting Portugal at home and then going up against Greece in Athens.
"Portugal makes things very difficult, with players who have talent, a very good physical level and, above all, have experience," he first commented on the Iberian clash with the Portuguese national team.
"In this case, it’s going to be a battle, a low-post battle, a physical matchup. Neemias Queta is a very talented player, skilled, and extremely physical. We have to make the most of our strengths, our experience, and our size, and as a team, make things as difficult as possible for him so that he doesn’t feel comfortable."
"In the end, it’s not about one-on-one basketball; it’s about playing as a team and defending as a team. So in that respect, I think we have a great team, and we can compete with him and with Portugal," Willy added.
As a new era opens up for the Spanish national team, a new chapter awaits Willy Hernangomez. When Window 4 concludes, it will be time for No. 14 to start the 2026-27 season in Malaga, powering Unicaja's roster.
It's a whole new chapter for the former back-to-back Basketball Champions League champs, who said goodbye to Ibon Navarro to welcome another iconic coaching figure like Txus Vidorreta.
"I’m extremely happy about this new stage in my life and my professional career, joining Unicaja alongside Txus Vidorreta, a coach with a huge amount of experience who has always made his teams winners and helped his players become better and play very good basketball," he commented on his new head coach.
After making his European return with Barcelona, following almost a decade in the NBA with the likes of the New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, and New Orleans Pelicans, the Martin Carpena Arena awaits him.
"I’m very excited about the new season and about being able to play in the BCL, a new competition for me. I’m really looking forward to traveling, competing, playing in Málaga and, above all, enjoying basketball and trying to take the team as far as possible," Willy Hernangomez commented about his new adventure.
Something fresh is on the horizon for the new co-captain of the Spanish national team, who will share leadership and family duties with his brother. Willy Hernangomez is ready to lead the way for La Familia.
FIBA