Sergio de Larrea’s stock has been rising all summer, and FIBA just turned up the spotlight.
Ahead of Spain’s World Cup qualifying window, FIBA named the Mavericks rookie among the young players worth watching, and the praise was pointed. The organization singled out the same traits that have made de Larrea such a fascinating guard prospect: size, passing feel and shooting.
“The former Valencia player possesses a unique combination of size, passing vision and three-point shooting ability, and his versatility to make an impact both with and without the ball in his hands could be instrumental for Spain in this window and make him a key piece of the team's next generation,” FIBA wrote.
That kind of language matters in Spain, a program that is moving into a new era after the retirements of the group that carried it through more than a decade of international success. For a 20-year-old to be described as part of what comes next is a serious vote of confidence.
De Larrea has already built a résumé that explains why he’s drawing this attention. The Valladolid native debuted in the EuroLeague for Valencia at 17, won gold with Spain at the 2023 FIBA U-19 World Cup and picked up silver at the 2022 U-17 World Cup in a title game against a United States team that included a young Cooper Flagg. Last season, he added Liga ACB Best Young Player honors, Spanish Supercup MVP and a second straight spot on the All-Liga ACB Young Players Team.
Mavericks fans got a closer look in Las Vegas, where de Larrea showed exactly why his profile stands out. Listed at 6-foot-6, he plays like a tall floor general, seeing over defenses and creating angles other guards simply don’t have.
He finished summer league leading all players in assists per game, and his best outing came against Oklahoma City, when he handed out 14 assists. The passing is one thing, but the shot makes the package even more appealing; he hit better than 40% from 3-point range at Valencia last season.
Now the test gets bigger. De Larrea will suit up for Spain against Portugal on Aug. 28 and Greece on Aug. 31 in World Cup qualifiers, a clear step up from summer league play.
He’s not arriving as some raw project, either. Four years of professional experience are already on the books, and more time against seasoned competition should only help him get ready for the NBA. With guard depth still a real question in Dallas behind Kyrie Irving and Marcus Sasser, a strong window for Spain would only help his case for minutes early.
The talent has never really been the issue. What these qualifiers offer is another chance to show how quickly it can translate, and another reminder that de Larrea may already be closer to NBA readiness than his age suggests.
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