By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Similar to the Playoffs of the 2023-24 edition of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Willy and Juancho Hernangomez are competing in a win-or-go-home Game 5 with FC Barcelona and Panathinaikos Aktor.
On Tuesday, the Greens host Anadolu Efes in OAKA Altion, and Barca visits AS Monaco in Salle Gaston Medecin.
“I share many experiences with my brother. I tell him about my Game 5 experience last year, and he tells me about the Final Four and winning the Euroleague,” said Willy in a press conference on Monday.
“There’s one game left and we’re playing away, but the team is focused on doing well. In the last two games, we’ve shown our level, and I think we can still make progress. We’re aware of the importance of tomorrow’s game; it would be my first Final Four, imagine how excited I am. It’s a game that motivates me a lot”, Hernangomez added before touching on his improvements.
“I’ve worked very hard all season to be ready to help the team, to continue believing in myself, and to do what the team needs. It’s true that in these Playoffs I’ve had the opportunity to play. I feel confident and just want to help the team in any way I can. These are important moments, and that’s why I’m here”.
El martes será un día intenso para la familia Hernangómez, ya que tanto Willy como Juancho jugarán quintos partidos: “Con mi hermano comparto muchas vivencias. Yo le cuento mi experiencia en un quinto partido, del año pasado, y él qué es una Final Four y ganar la Euroliga” pic.twitter.com/LaX1cVHjAs
— Alex Molina (@alex30mp) May 5, 2025
After the brothers decided to leave the NBA and return to Europe, Willy and Barcelona were eliminated by Olympiacos after losing Game 5, despite a home-court advantage in a best-of-five series. Juancho and Panathinaikos also went the distance, but prevailed in the deciding fixture versus Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv en route to winning the seventh EuroLeague championship in team history. More of the same to end the 2025 Playoffs.
After being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2015, Willy registered 345 appearances in the NBA, between the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets, and New York Knicks. Coming out of Real Madrid, his career in the league based in North America lasted from 2016 to 2023.
After moving from Madrid to Movistar Estudiantes to start his professional career, Juancho also played in the NBA between 2016 and 2023. Experience amounted to 350 games with the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, and San Antonio Spurs.