Is Willy Hernangomez related to 'Hustle' star Juancho Hernangomez? Exploring the relationship between the two Spaniards
Juancho Hernangomez, co-star of Adam Sandler in the hit Netflix movie "Hustle," apparently has a brother who is also actively playing in the NBA.
Willy Hernangomez, who plays for the New Orleans Pelicans, is Juancho's older brother. The siblings have even played together several times whenever they'd represent Team Spain in FIBA.
But how did they both get into basketball?
Taking a closer look at the history between Juancho Hernangomez and Willy Hernangomez
The Hernangomez brothers were born into a basketball family, as both their parents are successful basketball players in their own right.
Their mother, Margarita Geuer Draeger, was an international player who represented Spain in the 80s. Then there's their father, Guillermo Hernangomez Heredero, who was also a player for Estudiantes and Real Madrid in his playing years.
Given the kind of exposure Willy and Juancho Hernangomez had, it was practically a no-brainer for the brothers to follow in their parents' footsteps.
Both Juancho and Willy have come a long way. The brothers started their careers in the Spanish ACB League, wherein Juancho would represent CB Estudiantes while Willy suited up for Real Madrid. They also represented the Spanish national team.
Fast forward to 2015 and 2016, the Hernangomez siblings were both drafted into the NBA.
Willy was drafted first by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 35th overall pick. However, the league wouldn't see him play until 2016 when he ended up signing with the New York Knicks. As for Juancho, he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets as the 15th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
While Juancho Hernangomez was selected to star in "Hustle" alongside Adam Sandler, his older brother Willy has had a more stable career in the NBA.
So far in his seven-year career, Willy has only played for three NBA teams and is currently playing an active role for the New Orleans Pelicans. Juancho, on the other hand, is currently a free agent and has suited up for six teams in a span of seven seasons.
Willy Hernangomez's number might not be called often, but he makes the most out of his minutes when he plays on the court. This season, Willy is averaging 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds. He recently had a double-double outing against the LA Lakers on February 16 with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Juancho Hernangomez is struggling to become an effective player for the Toronto Raptors. Juancho only averages 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game despite playing 13 more games than his older brother.