What NBA teams has Juancho Hernangómez (Bo Cruz in Netflix’s ‘Hustle’) played for?
The young Spaniard is a bit of a journeyman when it comes to his professional career, but where does he play now and where did he come from?
Adam Sandler’s new drama tells the journey of a young Spanish basketball player and his journey to the big leagues, but who is he off screen and where does he currently play? Let’s find out.
Netflix’s ‘Hustle’ features a real NBA player as the protagonist
The cast of Adam Sandler’s latest Netflix film ‘Hustle,’ showcases a plethora of past and current NBA stars. In the drama, Stanley Sugerman is a die hard basketball fan and down on his luck talent scout with hopes of revamping his career. That in turn in turn leads him to Bo Cruz who is played by Juancho Hernangómez. Portrayed as a foreign born prospect in the film, the exciting young player becomes the focus of Sugerman’s attempt to introduce the NBA to the next biggest thing. The only problem is that he’s the only one in Philadelphia - the locale used in the film - who seems to believe that the young Spaniard has what it takes to make it in the NBA.
Along the way the pair cross paths with a whole host of players from the league’s past as well as current members of the Philadelphia 76ers’ roster as well as Minnesota Timberwolves young star Anthony Edwards. Interestingly, not all of the NBA stars in the film play themselves which makes for an curious opportunity to see the acting skills of some of the current NBA crop. With that said - spoiler alert - if you’re looking to catch a glimpse of Sixers star Joel Embiid, the big man is unfortunately not featured in the film and for that matter, neither is LeBron James who is actually the producer of the film.
Who is Juancho Hernangómez?
Born in Madrid, Spain the 26 year old began playing competitive basketball back in 2007, with the youth teams of CB Las Rozas. He would eventually move Real Madrid where he played with the youth squad until moving on to Club Baloncesto Majadahonda for the following years. His professional break would come in 2012 when he signed his first professional contract with CB Estudiantes and competed with their second team until 2014, when he was promoted to the first team. The following year at the conclusion of the 2015–16 he was actually named the ACB Best Young Player Award.
What team does Juancho Hernangómez played for in the NBA?
In the film ‘Hustle,’ Hernangómez makes his film debut as ‘Bo Cruz,’ a standout rookie prospect who comes to the attention of Stanley’s when he happens across him killing it in a streetball game in Spain, while wearing khaki cargo shorts and a pair of Timberland boots. What follows is a whirlwind of training montages and inspiring moments and back and forth moments for both the player and the scout. Incidentally, this in some ways mirrors what the reality was like for Hernangómez when he first came to the NBA in real life.
Drafted back on April 26th 2016, Hernangómez was named in the international early entry candidates list for that year’s NBA Draft. The Madrid native would go on to be selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 15th overall pick, but it wouldn’t be an immediate fit. In January of the following year, Hernangómez would be assigned to the NBA Development Leagues’ Siox Falls Skyforce, however, he would be recalled by the Nuggets just three days later after a stellar appearance in his first game with the Skyforce. He would go on to spend four seasons with the Nuggets before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020. Unfortunately his time with in Minnesota was short lived and after a year which saw him criticized for a loss of fitness, contract covid-19 and have a feud with the front office after they wouldn’t give him permission to play in the Olympics, it was time to say goodbye. From there it’s been a bit of a stop and start period for Hernangómez. Traded to the Celtics in 2021-22 he was almost immediately moved on to the Spurs in 2022 before finally being traded to the Utah Jazz where he plays today.