Roberto DueÃ±as

Roberto Dueñas Hernandez ( born 1 November 1975 in Madrid ) is a former Spanish professional basketball player. With a height of 221 cm, it is the largest Spanish basketball player of all time and was during his time at FC Barcelona as one of the most dominant center in the European basketball.

Career

Roberto Dueñas, who suffers from gigantism due to a malfunction of the pituitary played, 17 years old in the youth of CB Móstoles when he discovers in a bus station and invited to a trial with Baloncesto Fuenlabrada second division and was obliged later. Quick his talent was recognized and so the Spanish giants FC Barcelona secured his services in 1994, but gave him 1994/95 continues to Fuenlabrada. In the 1995/96 season he played most of the time for CB Cornella, which served as a farm team for FC Barcelona at the same time, however, debuted on December 17, 1995 in a game against CB Gran Canaria already in the ACB league. In the following season he already belonged to the senior squad for the Catalans, however, came during the base passage mostly from the bench. His breakthrough was to follow in 1997 in the playoffs for the championship, where he rose in the final series against arch-rivals Real Madrid to key players. In the decisive fifth game Dueñas reach 13 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. Dueñas was honored for his performance as the MVP of the finals playoffs. The following summer, the young Spaniard was drafted as the 58th pick by the Chicago Bulls and was only the third Spaniard who was elected by an NBA team. However, he decided to become a stay in Europe. During his ten years at Barça should succeed him numerous achievements, in addition to winning six league titles and two cup victories, he also attracted international attention with his team. In the Euro League season 2002/ 03 he won with FC Barcelona the title and finished the season as the best Rebouder the team, already in 1998/99 Dueñas had won the Korać Cup. Dueñas fascinated not only by its size and defensive rebounder and shot blocker starch as to its qualities also scored his passing and his overview. For the season 2005/ 06 he left FC Barcelona and moved to Akasvayu Girona, where he, however, due to numerous injuries could not connect to the achievements of past days. In November 2006, he left the club Joventut de Badalona direction, where, however, he brought it only to 10 inserts and end of the season due to chronic back problems announced his retirement from basketball. As honor his jersey number 12 was locked in his longtime club FC Barcelona.

After his playing career Roberto Duenas joined the coaching staff of FC Barcelona, where he is active in the youth sector, and as Scout.

National

Roberto Dueñas Spain took part in the U -22 European Championships in 1996 and failed only in the finale of Lithuania. His debut for the senior team, he celebrated on June 15, 1997 in a friendly match against Greece. Both at the European Championships in 1997 and in the 1998 World Cup Dueñas was part of the Spanish banns both tournaments and finished in fifth place. He celebrated his greatest success at the European Championships in 1999, where he met with 56:64 failed with his team until the endgame to Italy and took silver. Both at the Olympic Games 2000 in Sydney and 2004 in Athens Roberto Dueñas was part of the Spanish squad, but another podium finish was not to be.

Achievements and honors

Association

ULEB Euro League ( 1): 2002/ 03
Korać Cup (1): 1998/99
Spanish Champion (6): 1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/1999, 2000/2001, 2002/2003, 2003/2004
Spanish Cup Winners ( 2): 2000/2001, 2002/2003

National

European Championships 1999: Silver
U -22 European Championships 1996: Silver

Honors

MVP of the finals series of the Spanish Cup 1996/97

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