 López withKhimki Moscow Region in 2010. | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1980-04-15)15 April 1980 (age 45) Vic, Spain |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 2001: 1st round, 24th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Utah Jazz |
| Playing career | 1998–2016 |
| Position | Point guard |
| Number | 24 |
| Career history | |
| 1998–2000 | DKV Joventut |
| 2000–2002 | Real Madrid |
| 2002–2005 | Utah Jazz |
| 2005–2006 | Akasvayu Girona |
| 2006–2009 | Real Madrid |
| 2009–2011 | Khimki Moscow Region |
| 2011–2016 | Bilbao Basket |
| Career highlights | |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Medals | |
Raül López Molist (born 15 April 1980) is a Spanish former professionalbasketball player. He played for theUtah Jazz of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). López is a native ofVic,Barcelona, inCatalonia, Spain. At a height of 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) tall, he played at thepoint guard position. López was featured on the Spanish version of theNBA Live 2004 video game.
Although López was said by some to have been the Spanish version ofJohn Stockton, his game was often described as more similar to that ofSteve Nash andTony Parker. He was known for his quickness, court vision, unselfishness, and passing ability. Also, he had the ability to create his own shot, which was a key skill in the modernNBA andEuroLeague.
In 1998, at 18 years old, López began his professional career withJoventut Badalona in theSpanish ACB League. In 2000, he was signed byReal Madrid where he played for two seasons. Later, during the summer of 2005, he signed with the Spanish local teamAkasvayu Girona, which finished 7th at the end of the2005–06 ACB season.
In 2001, López was selected in the first round of the2001 NBA draft, 24th overall, by theUtah Jazz. In September 2002, he signed hisNBA rookie contract with theUtah Jazz and underwent surgery to repair the tornanterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, missing the entire2002–03 NBA season. Finally, in the2003–04 season, totally recovered from his knee injury, he played in all of the 82 regular season games as the backup to starting point guardCarlos Arroyo, while averaging 7.0 points, 3.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game.
On 3 August 2005 López was traded from the Jazz to theMemphis Grizzlies as part of the largest trade in NBA history, involving five teams, 13 players, and two draft picks. He was subsequently cut from theMemphis Grizzlies2005–06 roster.
Lopez' final NBA game was played on 15 February 2005 in a 95 - 102 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. In that game, Lopez played 12 minutes as the Jazz' starting Point Guard and recorded 7 points, 1 assist and 1 rebound.
López returned toReal Madrid after signing a contract in July 2006. In 2009, he moved to theVTB United League clubKhimki Moscow Region.[1] In July 2011, he returned toSpain, and signed a two-year contract withBilbao Basket.[2]
On 3 March 2016, López announced that he would to retire from playing basketball at the end of the2015–16 ACB season.[3]
López was a member of the Spain junior national teams that won gold medals at the1998 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and the 1999FIBA Under-19 World Championship.
López was named, along withJuan Carlos Navarro, to the seniorSpain national basketball team that participated at the2000 Summer Olympics inSydney,Australia. He also won the bronze medal at theEuroBasket 2001. However, before playing for Spain at the2002 FIBA World Championship, he suffered an injury to his right knee, the same one that occurred during the 2001–02 season, while he was playing withReal Madrid.
He also won the silver medal at the2008 Summer Olympics, and the gold medal at theEuroBasket 2009.
| Season | Team | League | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | DKV Joventut | Liga ACB | 1 | 18.0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | .500 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 10.0 |
| 1998–99 | 34 | 14.7 | .386 | .400 | .754 | 1.2 | 1.6 | .8 | .0 | 4.4 | ||
| 1999–00 | 32 | 23.7 | .515 | .380 | .836 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 1.2 | .0 | 10.1 | ||
| 2000–01 | Real Madrid | 43 | 21.1 | .545 | .412 | .784 | 1.7 | 2.4 | .9 | .0 | 7.7 | |
| 2001–02 | 14 | 21.1 | .517 | .227 | .788 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 1.5 | .0 | 8.3 | ||
| 2005–06 | Akasvayu Girona | 37 | 24.2 | .555 | .442 | .786 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 1.2 | .0 | 10.2 | |
| 2006–07 | Real Madrid | 43 | 22.4 | .437 | .319 | .863 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 1.0 | .0 | 5.8 | |
| 2007–08 | 34 | 21.0 | .575 | .435 | .942 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 1.1 | .0 | 8.1 | ||
| 2008–09 | 32 | 22.8 | .469 | .430 | .860 | 1.6 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .0 | 7.0 | ||
| 2009–10 | Khimki | Superleague A | 31 | 18.4 | .377 | .403 | .875 | 2.1 | 3.0 | .7 | .0 | 5.2 |
| VTB United League | 8 | 17.9 | .444 | .409 | 1.000 | 1.9 | 2.6 | .9 | .0 | 4.6 | ||
| 2010–11 | Russian PBL | 39 | 17.1 | .556 | .346 | .881 | 1.9 | 2.1 | .8 | .0 | 5.1 | |
| VTB United League | 11 | 17.2 | .500 | .619 | .538 | 1.9 | 1.8 | .6 | .1 | 5.6 | ||
| 2011–12 | Bilbao Basket | Liga ACB | 35 | 15.1 | .500 | .453 | .844 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.0 | .0 | 6.3 |
| 2012–13 | 29 | 20.9 | .479 | .256 | 1.000 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 1.1 | .0 | 5.8 | ||
| 2013–14 | 27 | 25.0 | .549 | .350 | .935 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 1.1 | .0 | 8.4 | ||
| 2014–15 | 36 | 18.9 | .521 | .310 | .889 | 1.3 | 2.7 | .7 | .0 | 8.0 |
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