Spanish Lullaby

Round Four: Aug. 1st to Aug. 7th
Answer the questions below and enter for a chance to win an autographed jersey or a trip to one of nine international destinations. Play every week!

Round Five: Aug. 8th to August 14th

1.  What place did Spain finish in the 2004 Olympic Games?
4th
9th
7th

2.  Which NBA player was born in Spain?
Wally Szczerbiak
Jumaine Jones
Derek Fisher

3.  Juan Carlos Navarro was selected with what pick in the 2002 NBA Draft?
20th
40th
58th

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They were considered perhaps the greatest group of players ever assembled in the history of team sports.


Paul Gasol (NBAE/Getty)

As the world watched starry-eyed, the USA Olympic Men’s Basketball Team, defeated Croatia, 117-85, to win the Gold Medal at the 1992 Olympics. For the first time using NBA stars in the Olympics – including Larry Bird, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Michael Jordan -- the “Dream Team” won by an average margin of 43.8 points per game .

Not to be overlooked was the fact that they did it in Barcelona, and the impact it would have on the NBA today.

Memphis Grizzlies forward and Spanish native Pau Gasol's first exposure to the NBA came from watching the Dream Team's exploits in his home country at the age of 12.

Gasol would go on to become 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year and an NBA All-Star, the first ever from Spain. Not surprisingly, other players from his generation and nation would also be part of an explosion of Spanish talent a decade after the 1992 Games.

In the same 2001 NBA Draft that Gasol was selected No. 3 overall -- the earliest ever for an international prospect at the time -- Real Madrid point guard Raúl López was drafted No. 24 overall by the Utah Jazz. A year later, Gasol's teammate growing up on national teams and F.C. Barcelona, Juan Carlos Navarro, was selected in the Second Round by Washington.

Before being traded to Miami, 6-10 forward Alberto Miralles was selected in the second round by Toronto in the 2004 NBA Draft. 6-11 Fran Vázquez was a lottery selection of the Orlando Magic in 2005.

During the 2005-06 NBA campaign, Gasol's Spanish National Team teammate Jose Calderon joined the Toronto Raptors after signing as a rookie free agent and finished the season ranked eighth in the league in assists per 48 minutes (9.3).

In the Draft that followed, the trend of a Spanish presence continued, with Sergio Rodriguez being selected in the First Round by the Phoenix Suns on June 28. Rodriguez's rights were traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, who were looking to add young talent for the future.

Prior to Gasol, only three Spanish players had ever been drafted in the NBA -- Fernando Martín (1985), Jose Antonio Montero (1987) and Roberto Dueñas (1997) – and only the late Martin had ever appeared in an NBA game.

In October 2003, Gasol returned to Palau Sant Jordi arena with the Grizzlies to face his former team, F.C. Barcelona, in an exhibition contest played before an announced crowd of 16,525. "Barca" fell, 91-80, but will look for revenge next fall when they host the 76ers on Oct. 5 at the same venue. The Sixers will hold 2006 training camp in Barcelona.

Perhaps this time, the presence of NBA stars in that city will once again fuel a generation of Spanish youngsters to pursue the NBA dream.