By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The New York Knicks capitalized on long-rumored interest Tuesday night by selecting Sergio de Larrea with the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, presented by State Farm, at Barclays Center.
Before securing the 20-year-old combo guard, the defending champions completed a trade, shipping the 24th pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for cash considerations and the subsequent selection, a move revealed by ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania. However, they don’t expect de Larrea to move from Valencia to the league based in North America for the 2026–27 campaign.
Standing an imposing 2.01 meters, the oversized playmaker headlined the draft’s professional international tier. He was projected as a first-round lock due to his masterful pick-and-roll navigation and efficient outside shooting.
The Valladolid native inherited basketball DNA from both parents and exploded onto the global radar by engineering Spain’s gold-medal triumph at the FIBA U19 World Cup 2023 and solid displays in last summer’s EuroBasket 2025. He channeled that pedigree into Valencia’s prestigious youth academy, rapidly ascending through the youth ranks. The prodigy sensationally forced his way onto the senior EuroLeague stage at just 17 years old.
The brilliant passer went on to build his status as a creator for the EuroLeague outfit with 4.2 points, 2.2 assists, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.4 steals per game en route to the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad. His run was complemented by a Supercopa Endesa championship, accompanied by Most Valuable Player honors, and the ACB Best Young Player award.
This draft night resonated deeply for Spain. Paired with Aday Mara’s lottery selection at 12th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder, De Larrea marked a triumphant resurgence, fueling a dual first-round presence for the first time since 2021.
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