Barça basketball has a tradition of introducing all new players at once, and this year was no different. The Auditori 1899 was buzzing on Monday as Kevin Punter, Juan Núñez, Justin Anderson, Chimezie Metu, and Youssoupha Fall were presented to the public. These new signings are expected to bring fresh energy to a team that didn’t win any titles last season. Coach Joan Peñarroya, who joined this summer, was introduced earlier on July 1st.
The five new players are filling the spots left by Rokas Jokubaitis, Nikola Kalinic, Oscar da Silva, Oriol Paulí, and James Nnaji, who is still with the team after being loaned to Girona. The team’s management has focused on building a more physical roster, with Punter being the go-to player in crucial moments of the game.
President Joan Laporta kicked off the event by welcoming the new signings. “You are all incredibly talented players, and that’s why we brought you here. I appreciate your dedication and eagerness to join Barça,” Laporta said, highlighting the club’s commitment to being a multi-sport organization. “Barça basketball is a vital part of our club and our members. As the president, I take pride in our success across all professional teams. We aim to be competitive yet sustainable,” he added.
Laporta expressed confidence in the new additions. “I believe Navarro and Mario have done an excellent job in strengthening the team this summer. These players are incredibly talented and will surely impress the fans at Palau,” he concluded.
The director of the Barcelona basketball team, Josep Cubells, started his speech by thanking the previous coach, Roger Grimau, who left the club a couple of months ago. “I want to express my gratitude to Roger Grimau, who took charge of the team a year ago during a challenging time. Although the results were not what we hoped for, he worked hard to make the project successful. Both the president and I assured him that Barça will always be his home,” Cubells said.
The director praised the qualities of the five new players and believes that Barça is taking a big step forward. “We are looking forward to an exciting season.. as always. These five new players are impressive, as well as our new coach,” said Joan Peñarroya, who was closely observing from the front row.
During the player interviews, most questions were directed at Juan Núñez, who joins Barça after being a standout at the Real Madrid youth academy until two years ago. “I chose Barça because they believed in me and gave me the confidence every young player needs. Now, it’s my turn to repay that trust,” said the 20-year-old point guard, who played the last two seasons at German club Ulm. “I bring a fresh perspective, I’m a young player who enjoys playing the game.”
Among the new signings, Kevin Punter is expected to have an immediate impact. The American shooting guard almost joined Barça a year ago but stayed with Partizan. This time, Barça successfully brought him to the Palau. “I’ve played here a few times as an opponent and I couldn’t wait to wear this jersey,” said Punter, who preferred not to dwell on his decision last year. “Today, I’m thrilled to be a part of Barcelona.”
Justin Anderson is anticipated to become a fan favorite at the Palau due to his high energy on the court. “I aim to win, our team is amazing, and when we come together, we’ll be a formidable force,” the American forward stated, arriving after a season split between Breogán and Valencia.
Less well-known to fans here is Chimezie Metu, who will be experiencing his first European experience after seven years in the NBA. “I’m having a great time. It’s my first experience in Europe and I’ve already had the chance to go to the team’s football match,” he explains. “I already knew how big this club was for football. When my agent called me and told me I had the chance to play here I was really excited.”
The latest to arrive was Youssoupha Fall, a giant of 222 centimeters (the tallest player in the club’s history), who will assist Jan Vesely and Willy Hernangómez in the inside game. “I will try to bring a lot of defense and intensity to try to win, to play hard to try to win something this year,” he said.
This content has been translated and adapted from the Spanish version of the digital newspaper
