The impact of the nationalized Spanish point guard Lorenzo Brown was much more positive than anyone would have imagined during last year’s Eurobasket, in which Spain ended up being proclaimed champion. Brown signed MVP numbers and appeared in the tournament’s ideal five. Only Willy Hernángomez managed to overcome him to win the best player trophy.
This season, Brown has shone at Maccabi in Israel, with whom he has won the League and was on the brink of the Final Four after losing to Monaco by a tight 3-2. 16.4 points, 3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 16.1 average rating in the Euroleague speaks of his influence in the competition.
But despite his fantastic form, Brown is not clear about going with Spain to the World Cup that is held from August 25 to September 10 and in which Spain defends the title. This is how he explained it to the journalist Tomer Givati: “I’m not sure, I don’t know if I’ll be in the World Cup with Spain. I’m thinking of not going. It has been a very long season, my body was beginning to suffer, I have pain. Every step I take is like torture. Let’s see how things go in summer…”
Lorenzo averaged 15.2 points, 7.6 assists and a PIR of 15.3 in the Eurobasket. He was decisive in overtime against Lithuania, in the round of 16, and played a great game in the semifinals against Germany: 29 points and 6 assists with 8/10 shooting from two. In the Federation they had him and Ricky Rubio, who was not at the Eurobasket due to injury, to form an outside couple that would have nothing to envy to practically any other team.
