Willy Hernangómez will play for Unicaja next season. According to MARCA, the Spanish international center has reached an agreement with the Málaga club for one season, ending his time at Barcelona.
The move is significant for the ACB market. Willy, 32 years old and 2.11 meters tall, had also fielded offers from Baskonia and La Laguna Tenerife, but ultimately chose Málaga. One of the key factors in the decision was the presence of Txus Vidorreta, Unicaja's new head coach and a coach with a long track record of getting the most out of his centers.
The signing comes at a particularly relevant moment for the player. Hernangómez arrived at Barcelona as a high-profile acquisition after seven seasons in the NBA, where he played for the New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, and New Orleans Pelicans. However, his time with the Blaugrana did not quite meet the expectations that had been generated.
Last season he averaged 7.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and a rating of 10.9 in the Liga Endesa, while in the EuroLeague he averaged 5.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and a rating of 7. Solid numbers, but far from the impact expected of an interior player called upon to be a reference point.
In Málaga, he will seek exactly that: continuity, confidence, and a context where he can feel important again. Unicaja, for its part, is adding a top-tier Spanish center with NBA experience, international pedigree, and the ability to produce near the basket.
The new Málaga project, the first without Ibon Navarro on the bench, thus adds a piece with significant name value for its interior game. Willy arrives with something to prove and with a clear opportunity to rebuild his role in the Liga Endesa.