Spanish basketball cannot be understood without the NBA draft and for the last 20 years. An exponential growth promoted by the figure of Pau Gasol preceded by other legends such as Fernando Martin and many others who never set foot on the NBA courts.
Eighteen players born in Spain have been selected in the NBA draft since 1985. No Spanish player had been selected since 2016, but that changed in 2021 with Ousmane Garouba and Sadi Aldama breaking the streak at 23rd and 30th.
It has not been uncommon to see throughout the history of the Draft various players who, despite being drafted, never had a major league career. Cases like his Albert Miralles, José Antonio Moreno or the case of Fran Vázquez which is perhaps most surprising for the position in which he was selected.
Let’s take a look at the full list of Spanish players who have been selected.
All Spanish players selected in the NBA draft
| Year | Round | Choose | Player | Equipment | Seasons in the NBA |
| 1985 | 2 | 38 | Ferdinand Martin | New Jersey Nets | 1 (1986-87) |
| 1987 | 5 | 113 | Jose Antonio Montero | Atlanta Hawks (traded to Memphis Grizzlies) | never debuted |
| 1997 | 57 | 2 | Roberto Duenas | Chicago Bulls | never debuted |
| 2001 | 1 | 3 | Pau Gasol | Atlanta Hacks | 17 (2001-2019) |
| 2001 | 1 | 24 | Raul Lopez | Utah Jazz | 2 (2003-2005) |
| 2002 | 2 | 39 | Juan Carlos Navarro | Washington Wizards | 1 (2007-2008) |
| 2004 | 2 | 10 | Albert Miralles | toronto raptors | never debuted |
| 2005 | 1 | eleven | Fran Vasquez | Orlando Magic | never debuted |
| 2006 | 1 | 27 | Sergio Rodriguez | Phoenix Suns (traded to Portland Trail Blazers) | 5 (2006-2010/2016-2017) |
| 2007 | 1 | 24 | Rudy Fernandez | Portland Trail Blazers | 4 (2008-2012) |
| 2007 | 2 | 48 | Marc Gasol | Los Angeles Lakers (traded to Memphis Grizzlies) | 13 (2008-2021) |
| 2008 | 1 | 24 | Serge Ibaka | seattle supersonics | (2009-present) |
| 2009 | 1 | 5 | Ricky Rubio | Minnesota Timberwolves | (2011-present) |
| 2009 | 1 | 22 | Victor Claver | Portland Trail Blazers | 3 (2012-2015) |
| 2009 | 2 | 3. 4 | Sergio Lull | Denver Nuggets (traded to Houston Rockets) | never debuted |
| 2011 | 1 | 23 | Nikola Mirotic | Houston Rockets (traded to Chicago Bulls) | 5 (2014-2019) |
| 2013 | 2 | 2 | Alex Abrins | Oklahoma City Thunder | 3 (2016-2019) |
| 2015 | 2 | 35 | Willy Hernangomez | Philadelphia 76ers (traded to New York Knicks) | (2016-present) |
| 2015 | 2 | 24 | Daniel Dees | Utah Jazz | never debuted |
| 2016 | 1 | fifteen | Juancho Hernangomez | Denver Nuggets | (2016-present) |
| 2021 | 1 | 23 | Usman Garuba | Houston Rockets | (2021-present) |
| 2021 | 1 | 30 | Santiago Aldama | Utah Jazz (traded to Memphis Grizzlies) | (2021-present) |
