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As on the back of Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro Spain conquered the world in Saitama, Ricky Rubio and Marc Gasol have honored their elders in Beijing with a feat that matches them. Or even surpasses them, because this time almost nobody trusted. Two couples for eternity, heroes of commitment, types so different and so great at the same time. And not only because of what they demonstrated on the court, it was even more that they managed to join the rest, that they added to their challenge, that they believed in impossible, that they paddled the sound of Pepu Hernández in 2006 and Sergio Scariolo in 2019.

Marc and Ricky's is the triumph of maturity, of wisdom. Two guys who share a motto: "Basketball is not the most important thing." A duo that adds 330 nights defending the shirt of Spain, which was also questioned, now and before. They have not departed an iota of their mission and today boast a deed. Ricky, with an unimaginable MVP when so many were pulling their hair to think that Spain was going to win a World Cup with the base as a leading scorer. Marc, exhausted after an infinite season, devoted to leadership and defense until he exploded "like ketchup" in the semifinal against Australia. What remains of that old teenager who battled without his brother in the final of Saitama? The heart. "In 2006 he was a very young boy. I arrived at the group without knowing very well where he was going but, thanks to the selection, I understood what professional basketball was. From there, everything has gone up," he said before leaving .

Juanqui and Pau arrived even more plethoric then to Japan and, surely, better surrounded. The fullness of 26, boldness too. Marc saw him closely, called at the last minute to replace Fran Vázquez, so vital in the final against Greece. Ricky, imberbe, with that legend of the 51 points in the final of the European cadet who was beginning to make him dream - he had achieved it just a few days before in Linares -, he saw them "with some friends at home, enjoying a great summer that pass".

Overcoming and leadership

They have little to do with capacity and moments, but both in leadership. They are other ages, not even the current Ricky is that of the impudence of his beginnings, the one that put the group in his pocket when he landed at age 17, precisely in Beijing. Now, approaching 30, with a beard and mane, he releases phrases to reflect on. "We play sports, basketball, and we are lucky. We hope that this spirit can be contagious in everyday life and in people's lives. In the end we see athletes like Nadal, Gasol, the men's and women's basketball teams , which are overcome. That one can take you to your life and surpass yourself, "as he reflected in the previous final.

His tournament has been as capitalized as perhaps few expected of a boy who was always hurt by expectations, which hit the criticism lasted when he arrived in the NBA did not devastate as he did in Europe, although while it was becoming a capital base, every summer polishing a nuance, even the launch: nobody dares to float (40% of success in the World Cup). Even more than he promised. Today is MVP of a World Cup. Big words. The peak of his eternal career: he has been a professional for 14 years and is not even thirty.

That promise of being, in addition to a total base, an offensive reference, has fulfilled it. Averaging 16 points per night. In addition to almost seven assists and a temper and wisdom that is priceless. As much has had to see another genius, of the 80 like Navarro and Pau, like Raúl López . Ricky came to him for ancestry and advice and found a mine of wisdom. "It has helped me a lot, through their experiences. It has been a person who has put me on another level, not only tactically, but mentally. For me it is the most talented base in the history of Spain, to which injuries they didn't let him take out everything he had inside. One of the first things I told him when we met was that, to help me get everything I had inside, "El Masnou had these days.

Ring and World the same summer

The comparison between that 2006 Pau and the current Marc has asterisks. Different ages, different players, same referents. All around them. The medium, exhausted after the conquest of the ring, has starred in a touching display. Master of his destiny, he decided not to fail Spain. And the reward has been capitalized: only he and Lamar Odom achieved NBA and World titles the same summer. In 2009 his brother had been unique, with two worlds also in his hands, ring and Eurobasket then. With 34 years, the Raptors has 182 internationals and eight medals with Spain: it has only been missing in two championships (2015 and 2016) in 13 years.

Both, lonely heroes, in the mission of their lives. They were among the few players that no family member or friend could visit in China. In Barcelona, ​​Marc's two children, Julia and Luca, and his wife Cristina were waiting. The future of Ricky brings him the greatest of the vital joys - after the stick that led to the death of his mother in 2015 -, under the gold his first son soon comes.

Ideal World Quintum

  • Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia)
  • Ricky Rubio (Spain)
  • Evan Fournier (France)
  • Marc Gasol (Spain)
  • Luis Scola (Argentina)

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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  • Pau Gasol
  • Spain
  • Greece
  • Marc Gasol
  • Ricky Rubio
  • Pepu Hernandez
  • Sergio Scariolo
  • Australia
  • Barcelona
  • China
  • Europe
  • Lamar Odom
  • Japan
  • sports
  • Basketball World Cup 2019
  • Spanish Basketball Team
  • basketball

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