Spain certainly wasn’t the favorite heading into the 2022 European Basketball Championship (EuroBasket). But courtesy of Sunday’s 88-76 victory over France (box score) in the tournament’s championship game, the Spaniards overcame the odds.
One big reason was second-year Houston Rockets forward Usman Garuba, who played a key role as a defender and facilitator.
“Our idea was that Lorenzo (Brown) would lead the team in attack, and Usman in defense,” Spanish national team coach Sergio Scariolo said of Garuba during the tournament. “He is an extraordinary defender. He can change everything. He has a big heart. He makes mistakes, of course. He is very young, but we trust him a lot.”
In Sunday’s title game, Garuba (4 assists, 2 points, 2 blocks) didn’t fill the traditional box score, but he made several contributions — including a statement block in the second half — that helped lead Spain to victory over Rudy Gobert and France. In all, the Spanish national team was plus-7 in Garuba’s 16 minutes. Scroll on for a look at his top highlights, along with postgame analysis and interviews.
With EuroBasket now in the books, Garuba travels back to his NBA home of Houston later this week. Training camp for the 2022-23 Rockets season is set to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
NOT ON GARUBA'S WATCH ⛔#EuroBasket x #BringTheNoise
📺 https://t.co/XA74VljBO4 pic.twitter.com/FeIxbLzwqT
— #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) September 18, 2022
Usman Garuba just said:
🗣🇬🇧 This is my house!
🗣🇪🇸 Este es mi casa!
🗣🇯🇵 これが私の家です
🗣🇨🇳 这是我的房子#EuroBasket #BringTheNoise
— Josh Bett 🏀🎙 (@JoshBett1) September 18, 2022
Tremendous blocked shot by Usman Garuba to close the third quarter in Eurobasket championship game. Spain up vs. France, 66-57. Garuba has not played a whole lot today, but his playing time in the tournament has help after his injury-filled rookie season.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) September 18, 2022
Usman Garuba is a pretty ridiculous defender. Fun to watch on the defensive end.
— Adam Mares (@Adam_Mares) September 18, 2022
Mood Usman Garuba: pic.twitter.com/tDVAxU1Tc8
— Anastasio Ríos (@Tasio93) September 18, 2022
Usman Garuba & Spain, EuroBasket Champions https://t.co/ki2JK4div6
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) September 18, 2022
That's it for the Eurobasket.
Usman Garuba was quite ineffective in the first 4 games, and then turned on the heat and dominated as a defender & playmaker. Sengun balled out.
Honestly? It was more entertaining than the 2022 NBA playoffs. Great basketball, upsets & storylines.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) September 18, 2022
Juancho Hernangomez rumbles for 27 points in the @EuroBasket final and Spain, expected by pretty much no one to win the tournament, topples France in the title game to take Euro gold and add another surprise to its 2019 World Cup crown.
More NBA from me: https://t.co/LGN9cVpMwn
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 18, 2022
Spain tops France, 88-76, for the Eurobasket title. The Hernangomez bros pick up where Gasols left off. Juancho was great today. Good tournament for Garuba after a tough rookie season. https://t.co/n6LpOofIcI
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) September 18, 2022
Usman Garuba celebrating Spain's EuroBasket title on IG live 🏆🔥 pic.twitter.com/3uOQ16vLqr
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) September 18, 2022
Congratulations to @BaloncestoESP and our guy @UsmanGaruba! 🏆 https://t.co/XtFNkEJUvk
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) September 18, 2022
One of the highlights of 🇪🇸 Spain’s #EuroBasket campaign was Usman Garuba’s passing 🥵
Rockets forward displayed sensational vision all tournament long 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WFhIac9dbc
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 19, 2022
