Álex Abrines, a prominent figure in Spanish basketball, has announced his retirement from teh sport after a distinguished 14-season career. Known for his remarkable shooting prowess, particularly from beyond the arc, and his commitment to team play as an elite defender, Abrines leaves behind a legacy of critically important achievements with both club and country.
Abrines began his professional journey at the tender age of 18, debuting in the ACB league with Unicaja Málaga during the 2011-12 season. His extraordinary early performances quickly earned him a move to FC Barcelona, where he solidified his status as a top-tier player, contributing to three championship titles: the 2014 Liga, the 2013 Copa del Rey, and the 2016-2017 Supercopa.
His talent also took him to the NBA, where he spent two and a half seasons as a valuable rotation player for a Western Conference powerhouse. Following his stint in the United States, Abrines returned to FC Barcelona for the 2019-20 season, adding two more league titles (2021, 2023) and two Copa del Rey titles (2021, 2022) to his impressive resume. His professional career concluded with a total of seven titles, having played 357 games in the ACB and 185 in the NBA, including regular season and playoff matchups.
Tribute from Elisa Aguilar:
Elisa Aguilar, President of the Spanish Basketball federation, expressed her admiration for Abrines’ contributions: “It has been a pleasure to see Álex defend the shirt of Spain. He has left his mark in his NBA stage and shone in each of the teams in which he has militated.”
international Career with #lafamilia:
Abrines’ final appearance for the Spanish National Team was at the recent Paris Olympic Games, marking his third Olympic participation. He first joined the senior squad in August 2014,being selected for the World Championship held in Spain. Throughout his international career, Abrines accumulated 63 caps for Spain, participating in various championships and kind matches. His national team achievements include two bronze medals: one at the 2016 Rio Olympics and another at the 2017 Eurobasket.
Prior to his senior team debut, Abrines also excelled in the youth categories, securing two additional medals. He earned a bronze at the 2012 U20 Eurobasket and, most notably, a gold medal at the 2011 U18 Eurobasket, where he was also named the Most Valuable Player.
Álex Abrines’ National Team Statistics:
International Appearances: 63 (41 games played)
Championships Played: 7 (3 Olympic Games, 2 World Cups, 1 Eurobasket)
medals Won: 2 (1 Olympic Bronze, 1 European Bronze)
Key Statistics: 262 points, 24 assists, 70 rebounds
Personal Bests: 16 points (vs. Angola, 2016 friendly), 5 assists (vs. ivory Coast, 2023 World Cup Group Phase), 6 rebounds (vs. Belgium, 2017 friendly).
Álex Abrines’ national Team Medal Tally:
European Bronze: finland/Israel/Romania/Türkiye 2017
* Olympic Bronze: Rio 2016
