Mavs' Sergio De Larrea Set for FIBA Qualifying with Team Spain

Dallas Mavericks rookie Sergio De Larrea will compete for Spain in the FIBA European Qualifiers tournament this week, with a matchup against Portugal awaiting on Friday, Aug. 28.

Spain, with a 5-1 record in the tournament thus far, is among the favorites to advance out of qualifying, especially from Group 1, which includes Ukraine, Montenegro, Portugal, Greece and Georgia.

However, the Spaniards just fell to Georgia, 91-89, in early July. Georgia overcame a 22-point deficit to force overtime and complete the upset.

De Larrea did not see the floor in that game, but he is included in the national team's social media posts this week leading up to Friday's second-round game.

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Spain's roster includes NBA talents Aday Mara, another 2026-27 rookie who was a first-round draft pick of the Oklahoma City Thunder, veteran big man Willy Hernangomez and Boston Celtics youngster Hugo Gonzalez.

Portugal is 3-3 in the tournament, but will be welcoming back Celtics forward Neemias Queta to the lineup to face Spain.

The game takes place in Zaragoza, Pabellon Principe Felipe (ESP) at 2 p.m. CT (9 p.m. local time). It can be streamed live with a DAZN subscription.

Spain is 2-0 all-time against Portugal in international competition, but the two countries have not faced one another since EuroBasket in 2011.

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De Larrea will join Dallas later this fall for training camp ahead of the Mavs' Oct. 21 season opener against the Houston Rockets.

The 6-5 point guard showcased a natural feel and smooth passing ability in his minutes at the NBA Summer League shortly after being drafted No. 25 overall and landing with Dallas via a trade.

De Larrea has steadily increased his production for his club team, Valencia, in Spain's Liga ACB and the EuroCup.

In 28 games last season in league play, De Larrea averaged a career-high 9.7 points and 3.7 assists in 18.3 minutes per game. That role regressed slightly in EuroCup competition, with De Larrea seeing the floor for just over 10 minutes per game.

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In four games at Summer League, De Larrea averaged 8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 10.8 assists per game. He set the Mavs' Summer League record with 14 assists in a game on July 16 against the Thunder.

"He looks like someone who played point guard growing up," said coach Joe Boylan, potentially foreshadowing the 20-year-old's upcoming role behind Kyrie Irving in Dallas.

"His passing, his vision, his IQ, those are things of somebody who has probably played the position a long time.

“And then he probably hit a growth spurt. And that’s kind of allowed him to potentially play multiple positions. I think the NBA is trending toward having as many point guards on the floor at one time ... it gives you flexibility and you can play alongside to play next to another ballhandler. I think he’ll get opportunities as the primary and secondary guy. And it’s going to be excited to see where he’s best-suited to play. He’s going to be really versatile and adaptable player."