The rhythmic bounce of the basketball echoes through the nearly empty Palau Blaugrana as I watch the team’s final practice before their first major game of the season. There’s a certain kind of tension in the air—not the frantic, anxious kind, but a quiet, simmering focus. I’ve been covering Spanish basketball for over a decade, and I’ve seen this team at its highest peaks and its most frustrating lows. As I sit here, watching Sergio Llull sink three-pointers with that familiar, almost effortless flick of his wrist, the question that’s been on everyone’s mind lately floats to the surface of my thoughts: Can Spain's Men's Basketball Team Reclaim Their Championship Glory This Season?

I remember the 2019 FIBA World Cup like it was yesterday. The sheer dominance, the unity, Ricky Rubio’s magical playmaking—it felt like Spanish basketball had unlocked something timeless. But since then, things have shifted. The golden generation is aging, and new faces are stepping into the spotlight, carrying the weight of a nation’s expectations. One of those faces is Juan Núñez, a young guard whose energy is palpable even from the sidelines. At 6-foot-4, he’s hard to miss on the court, but what’s just as impossible to ignore is the buzz he’s created off it. While his 6-foot-4 frame as a guard is hard to miss, it also doesn't hurt that he has a sizable online presence, garnering quite the following on Instagram (48.1K followers) and TikTok (174.9K followers). I’ve got to admit, I followed him on TikTok a few months back, partly out of professional curiosity and partly because my niece insisted he was “the future.” His videos—a mix of behind-the-scenes practice clips, playful dances with teammates, and heartfelt messages to fans—aren’t just fluff. They’re building a bridge between the team and a younger generation that might otherwise be glued to football highlights. And in a way, that social media savvy is symbolic of what this new-look Spanish squad needs: a fresh connection to the people, a new narrative.

But let’s be real—Instagram followers don’t win championships. As much as I appreciate the off-court charisma, my gut tells me that Spain’s success this season hinges on two things: leadership and that unteachable, gritty defense they’ve been known for. I spoke with Rudy Fernández last week—yep, the ageless wonder—and he told me something that stuck with me: “We have the talent, but talent alone is just noise if it doesn’t harmonize.” He’s right. Look at the roster. You’ve got veterans like him and Llull, who’ve been through every battle imaginable, and then you have the new blood like Usman Garuba, whose defensive instincts are just… wow. But harmonizing isn’t always easy. I’ve seen teams with more raw skill fall apart because the chemistry wasn’t there. Remember the 2021 Olympics? We barely scraped into the quarter-finals, and it wasn’t for lack of ability. It was the little things—miscommunications on switches, rushed shots in clutch moments. This season, though, something feels different. In practice today, I noticed how the players were constantly talking, pointing, adjusting. It wasn’t robotic; it was organic, like a conversation they’ve all been part of for years.

Of course, the competition is fiercer than ever. Serbia’s looking unstoppable with Jokić, France is… well, France, and let’s not even get started on Team USA’s depth. But here’s where my bias kicks in—I’ve always believed that Spain thrives as the underdog. There’s a certain fire that ignites when people doubt them. I think back to 2006, when they won the World Championship against Greece. Nobody saw it coming, but they played with a chip on their shoulder that was almost tangible. This season, that same energy is brewing. In a friendly match last month against Lithuania, they were down by 12 points in the third quarter. Instead of folding, they locked in defensively, forced turnovers, and clawed their way back. The final play? A steal by Núñez, who drove the length of the court and dished it to Willy Hernangómez for a dunk that brought the house down. It was messy, it was chaotic, but it was pure heart. And honestly, that’s the kind of basketball I love—the kind that’s not always pretty but always fierce.

Now, I’m not saying it’ll be easy. The EuroBasket is around the corner, and the margin for error is slim. Statistics from last season show that Spain’s three-point shooting accuracy dipped to around 34% in crucial games, which is… not great. Compare that to their 2019 run, where they were hitting at a blistering 41% from beyond the arc. Numbers don’t lie, but they also don’t tell the whole story. What the stats won’t show you is the way this team celebrates each other’s successes—the way Alberto Abalde, who’s been struggling with his shot lately, was the first one off the bench to hug Núñez after that game-winning assist against Lithuania. That camaraderie, that unselfishness, is what made Spain champions in the past, and it’s what could propel them again.

So, as I pack up my notes and head out of the arena, the question lingers. Can Spain's Men's Basketball Team Reclaim Their Championship Glory This Season? My heart says yes, but my head warns me it’ll be a battle. They’ve got the pieces—the seasoned leaders, the hungry youngsters, and yes, even the social media charm that keeps fans engaged through the highs and lows. But more than that, they’ve got a shared hunger I haven’t seen in a while. It’s in the way they drill tirelessly during practice, the way they analyze game footage together, and the way they’ve built a community both on and off the court. Will it be enough? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure—I’ll be there, courtside, watching every step of the journey. And if you ask me, that’s what makes sports so beautifully unpredictable.