Juan Carlos Navarro (basketball) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Juan Carlos Navarro

Navarro with the Spain national team in 2011
FC Barcelona
General Manager
Personal information
Born	(1980-06-13) June 13, 1980 (age 45) Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Spain
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	201 lb (91 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	2002 / Round: 2 / Pick: 40th overall
Selected by the Washington Wizards
Pro career	1997–2018
League	Liga ACB EuroLeague
Career history
1997–2007	FC Barcelona
2007–2008	Memphis Grizzlies
2008–2018	FC Barcelona
Career highlights and awards
As a player: NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2008) 101 Greats of European Basketball (2018) Mister Europa Player of the Year (2010) EuroBasket MVP (2011) 2× EuroLeague champion (2003, 2010) EuroLeague MVP (2009) EuroLeague Final Four MVP (2010) 5× All-EuroLeague First Team (2006, 2007, 2009–2011) 2× All-EuroLeague Second Team (2012, 2013) EuroLeague Top Scorer (2007) EuroLeague 2000–2010 All-Decade Team (2010) EuroLeague 2010–2020 All-Decade Team (2020) EuroLeague 25th Anniversary Team (2025) EuroLeague Legend (2014) FIBA Korać Cup champion (1999) Spanish Sportsman of the Year (2011) 8× Liga ACB champion (1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014) 7× Spanish Cup winner (2001, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018) 5× Spanish Supercup winner (2004, 2009–2011, 2015) Liga ACB MVP (2006) 3× Liga ACB Finals MVP (2009, 2011, 2014) 4× All-Liga ACB First Team (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010) Liga ACB Top Scorer (2007) 3× Spanish Supercup MVP (2009–2011) No. 11 retired by FC Barcelona (2019)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Spain Summer Olympic Games Silver 2008 Beijing Silver 2012 London Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro FIBA World Cup Gold 2006 Japan FIBA EuroBasket Gold 2009 Poland Gold 2011 Lithuania Silver 2003 Sweden Silver 2007 Spain Bronze 2001 Turkey Bronze 2017 Turkey FIBA U19 World Cup Gold 1999 Portugal U19 Team FIBA U18 EuroBasket Gold 1998 Bulgaria U18 Team

Juan Carlos Navarro Feijoo, often called Juan Carlos Navarro or J. C. Navarro (born June 13, 1980), is a Spanish former professional basketball player. He is now a basketball executive. He works as the general manager for the Spanish EuroLeague club FC Barcelona Bàsquet.

During his time as a player, he was 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall. He played as a shooting guard. Navarro was known by his nickname "La Bomba," which means "The Bomb" in Spanish. This name also refers to his special basketball move, the tear drop shot. He was very good at this shot.

Many people think Navarro is one of the best European basketball players ever. He was named the Eurobasket News All-Europe Player of the Year three times. He also received the Mr. Europa award in 2010. In 2014, Navarro became a EuroLeague Basketball Legend. In 2018, he was chosen as one of the "101 Greats of European Basketball." He was one of only two active players to receive this honor.

As a club player, Navarro won the EuroLeague championship twice. This happened in 2003 and 2010. He was also named the EuroLeague MVP in 2009. He won the EuroLeague Final Four MVP award in 2010. Navarro was also part of the EuroLeague 2000–2010 All-Decade Team and the EuroLeague 2010–2020 All-Decade Team.

As the captain of the Spanish national team, Navarro won many medals. He earned a FIBA World Cup gold medal in 2006. He also won two Olympic silver medals in 2008 and 2012. Additionally, he won two FIBA EuroBasket gold medals in 2009 and 2011. He was named to the FIBA EuroBasket All-Tournament Team twice. In 2011, he was the FIBA EuroBasket MVP.

Early Life and Basketball Start

Juan Carlos Navarro Feijoo was born in Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. He started playing youth system club basketball at age 8. He played for a local club called Club Bàsquet Santfeliuenc. When he was 12, he joined the youth teams of FC Barcelona.

Playing for FC Barcelona (1997–2007)

Navarro began playing for the main FC Barcelona team at 17. His first game in the Spanish ACB League was on November 23, 1997. He chose to stay in Europe and play for Barcelona instead of attending the Nike Hoop Summit. Because of his club duties, he also missed playing for the Spanish junior national team that won a tournament in 1998.

In 2003, FC Barcelona had a fantastic year. They won every competition they played in. This included their first-ever EuroLeague championship. By winning the Spanish ACB League, the Spanish King's Cup, and the EuroLeague in the same year, Barcelona achieved the special Triple Crown.

With Barcelona, Navarro won many titles:

• 8 Liga ACB (Spanish League) championships: 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014.
• 7 Spanish King's Cup wins: 2001, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018.
• 5 Spanish Supercup wins: 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015.
• 1 FIBA Korać Cup championship: 1999.
• 2 EuroLeague championships: 2003 and 2010.

Navarro also helped Barcelona reach the EuroLeague Final Four seven times. He was chosen for the All-EuroLeague Team seven times. In 2006, he won the MVP award for the Spanish Liga ACB regular season. He was named the Spanish Liga ACB Finals MVP in 2009 and 2011. He also won the EuroLeague MVP in 2009 and the EuroLeague Final Four MVP in 2010.

Playing in the NBA (2007–2008)

While playing for FC Barcelona, Navarro improved a lot. He played alongside famous players like Pau Gasol. He became one of Europe's most promising young players. NBA teams started to notice him.

In 2002, the Washington Wizards picked Navarro in the NBA draft. He was the 40th pick overall. However, Navarro decided not to join the Wizards. He preferred to stay with FC Barcelona.

On August 3, 2007, the Washington Wizards traded Navarro's draft rights to the Memphis Grizzlies. This meant the Grizzlies could sign him. Navarro then joined his former teammate, Pau Gasol, on the Grizzlies. After paying a large fee to leave FC Barcelona, Navarro signed a one-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. He played for them during the 2007–08 season.

In his first NBA season, Navarro was one of the Grizzlies' best three-point shooters. He was named to the 2007–08 NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He averaged 10.9 points per game. On June 18, 2008, Navarro decided to leave the NBA and return to Spain. He signed a big contract with Barcelona, his old team.

Navarro's last NBA game was on April 16, 2008. The Grizzlies lost to the Denver Nuggets. In that game, Navarro scored 16 points.

Returning to FC Barcelona (2008–2018)

Navarro with FC Barcelona, getting past Joventut's Pau Ribas, after a screen performed by Daniel Santiago (2009).

Navarro with FC Barcelona (2017).

After playing one season in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies, Navarro went back to FC Barcelona in 2008. He signed a four-year contract. In 2012, Barcelona extended his contract for two more years.

During the 2014–15 season, Navarro had several injuries to his right leg. He missed many games because of a torn muscle. He also had plantar fasciitis in his right foot. These injuries affected how well he played that season.

On August 17, 2018, Navarro stopped playing professional basketball. He then joined the FC Barcelona club's main office. This was part of a 10-year contract he signed in 2017. The contract said he would work in the club's front office after he retired from playing.

When he retired, Navarro was the EuroLeague's all-time leader in total points scored. He had 4,152 points in the modern EuroLeague era (since 2000). This record was later broken by Vassilis Spanoulis. Navarro also held the record for most points in the entire history of the EuroLeague (since 1958). In March 2019, FC Barcelona retired his number 11 jersey. This means no other player on the team will wear that number.

Playing for the Spanish National Team

Navarro with Spain's national team, attacking the paint against Macedonia, in 2011.

In 1998, Navarro was part of the Spanish under-18 junior national team. They won the gold medal at the 1998 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He was also part of Spain's "Golden Generation" of players. This group, which included Pau Gasol, beat the United States junior national team in the 1999 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.

Navarro played for the senior Spanish national team at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics. He also played in the 2001 EuroBasket. He scored 27 points in the bronze medal game against Germany. At the 2003 EuroBasket, Navarro won a silver medal with Spain.

In 2006, Navarro played on the Spanish national team that won the gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship. They beat Greece in the final game. In 2007, Spain lost to Russia in the gold medal game at the 2007 EuroBasket.

Navarro was part of Spain's team that won the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. He scored 18 points in the gold medal game against Team USA.

Spain won the 2009 EuroBasket with Navarro on the team. They kept their European title at the 2011 EuroBasket. Navarro led his team with 27 points in the championship game against France. He was named to the FIBA EuroBasket All-Tournament Team and was the EuroBasket MVP.

Navarro won another silver medal with Spain at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. He also played in the 2014 FIBA World Cup. At the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, he won a bronze medal. He also won a bronze medal at the 2017 EuroBasket.

After Playing Basketball

After Navarro retired from playing basketball in August 2018, he started working for the Liga ACB club FC Barcelona. In April 2021, Navarro became Barcelona's general manager. He took over from Nacho Rodríguez.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

EuroLeague

Domestic leagues

Regular season

Year	Team	League	GP	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1998-99†	Barcelona	ACB	12	9.4	.361	.111	.676	.7	.9	.4	—	4.2
1999-2000			17	9.7	.510	.235	.826	.5	.8	.4	—	4.3
2000-01†			34	17.1	.374	.231	.796	.9	1.3	.8	—	7.3
2001-02			31	21.8	.388	.311	.856	2.1	2.2	1.3	—	13.1
2002-03†			34	28.8	.468	.373	.783	1.9	2.3	1.0	—	10.2
2003-04†			33	27.5	.416	.382	.865	2.2	1.9	.7	.1	13.6
2004-05			33	26.1	.503	.473*	.783	1.6	2.3	.8	—	14.3
2005-06			30	30.3	.483	.429	.875	2.1	2.8	.9	—	17.9
2006-07			33	30.0	.460	.446	.880	2.0	2.7	1.5	—	17.3*
2008-09†			28	27.4	.442	.411	.865	1.9	3.3	.9	—	15.7
2009-10			33	25.9	.466	.394	.845	1.6	2.2	.9	—	14.8
2010-11†			27	25.5	.464	.431	.882	1.9	2.7	.7	—	16.4
2011-12†			28	23.8	.419	.367	.864	1.4	3.0	.4	—	13.7
2012-13			19	21.8	.478	.415	.868	2.5	2.0	.4	—	12.0
2013-14†			28	22.1	.372	.316	.807	2.3	3.1	.6	—	9.6
2014-15			17	26.0	.347	.350	.786	1.4	2.1	.4	—	6.0
2014-15			21	17.0	.417	.381	.917	1.2	1.9	.5	—	8.1
2016-17			16	13.4	.462	.333	.944*	.7	1.2	.5	—	7.3
2017-18			27	13.1	.405	.413	.895	1.6	1.2	.3	—	5.6

Awards and Accomplishments

Club Honours

• EuroLeague: 2003, 2010
• Spanish League: 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014
• FIBA Korać Cup: 1999
• Spanish King's Cup: 2001, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018
• Spanish Supercup: 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015
• Catalan League: 2000, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

Spanish Junior National Team

• 1998 FIBA Under-18 EuroBasket: 1 Gold

• 1999 FIBA Under-19 World Cup: 1 Gold

Spanish Senior National Team

• 2001 EuroBasket: 3 Bronze
• 2003 EuroBasket: 2 Silver

• 2006 FIBA World Cup: 1 Gold

• 2007 EuroBasket: 2 Silver

• 2008 Summer Olympics: 2 Silver

• 2009 EuroBasket: 1 Gold

• 2011 EuroBasket : 1 Gold

• 2012 Summer Olympics: 2 Silver

• 2016 Summer Olympics: 3 Bronze
• 2017 EuroBasket: 3 Bronze

Individual Awards

Clubs

Navarro, receiving the 2011 EuroBasket's MVP award trophy.

• Catalan League Final MVP: 2000, 2001
• All-Spanish League Team: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010
• Spanish League MVP: 2006
• Eurobasket News All-EuroLeague Guard of the Year: (2006)
• EuroLeague Top Scorer: 2007
• Spanish League Top Scorer: 2007
• NBA All-Rookie Second Team: 2008
• EuroLeague MVP: 2009
• Spanish League Finals MVP: 2009, 2011, 2014
• Spanish Supercup MVP: 2009, 2010, 2011
• Eurobasket News All-Europe Player of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2011
• Mr. Europa: 2010
• EuroLeague 2000–2010 All-Decade Team: 2010
• EuroLeague 2010–2020 All-Decade Team: 2020
• EuroLeague Legend: 2014
• EuroLeague Final Four MVP: 2010
• EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer: (2010)
• All-EuroLeague Team: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • All-EuroLeague First Team: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
  • All-EuroLeague Second Team: 2012, 2013
• Eurobasket.com's Liga ACB Domestic Player of the Year: (2010, 2012)
• 101 Greats of European Basketball: (2018)
• Number 11 jersey retired by FC Barcelona: (2019)

Spanish National Team

• EuroBasket All-Tournament Team: 2005, 2011
• EuroBasket MVP: 2011
• Spanish Sportsman of the Year: 2011

See also

In Spanish: Juan Carlos Navarro para niños

• Basketball in Spain
• List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games