Almost two months before the whole family gathers to celebrate Christmas, the Hernangómez Geuers will have a nice aperitif this evening at the Palau. It will be a morbid Barça-Panathinaikós that will divide hearts at home. "It's a very special match because we will face each other for the first time in the Euroleague", confirmed the Blaugrana Willy (29) about the duel against his middle brother Juancho (28), who wears green this season under the orders of Ergin Ataman (Andrea, who plays at the University of Fairfield, in the United States, is the youngest).
The paths of the two brothers have crossed over time. Together, defending the interests of the Spanish national team, they have reached the top by hanging among other medals a world gold (China 2019) and another European (Germany 2022). On the way to the elite, moreover, they have faced their various teams in the NBA on many occasions, but now it is different.
Both decided to cross the Atlantic in the summer. Fate had reserved a new opportunity for them to share a dressing room in Barcelona. The media signing of an ex-Madrid player like Willy Hernangómez not only increased the excitement of the Blaugrana fans, but also that of the team's technical services, who had set their eyes on Juancho in his arduous task of rebuilding the template But, despite the presence of his brother, which at Palau was interpreted almost as a definitive success to bring them both together, Juancho surprised and ended up betting on Panathinaikos, which has also experienced a summer of many changes, including , as at Barça, on the bench.
At the moment, his trajectory is not being parallel. Under Grimau's orders, Willy is being able to produce a lot without needing to abuse the minutes on the floor. In the Euroleague, for example, it doesn't even reach 17 on average. He is just the 7th player with the most minutes in the squad (16m55s), but that is enough to be the 3rd with the best rating (12). In each game you see him a little more adapted and his game (and his weight in the team) continues to climb positions.
It's not that in Juancho's case the opposite is the case, but it is evidence that the Hernangómez midfielder is finding it more difficult to find his way, especially in the Euroleague, in which Ataman's Panathinaikos did not have a good start to the season not promising at all. Of course, he is straightening it out and arrives at the Palau Blaugrana much more confident after beating Olympiacos in the league derby.
Making a place in a team full of stars, with many Greek players, moreover, is not being easy for Juancho. Although he plays more than his brother in Europe (23m26s), he is also the 7th in minutes in Ataman's squad. But his production is much lower than that of Willy (8.6, the 7th of Panathinaikos). This evening, the losses of men of the weight of Slukas or Vildoza in the green ranks can give him more prominence. "I will give advice to Kalinic and Abrines so that they defend him well", asserted Willy.
The family meeting at the Palace is served.
