{"id":510486,"date":"2026-08-18T08:35:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T06:35:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/?p=510486"},"modified":"2026-08-18T08:35:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T06:35:40","slug":"willy-hernangomez-ive-put-my-helmet-on-im-just-another-soldier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/willy-hernangomez-ive-put-my-helmet-on-im-just-another-soldier\/","title":{"rendered":"Willy Hernang\u00f3mez: \u201cI\u2019ve put my helmet on. I\u2019m just another soldier.\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI\u2019M ARRIVING WITH HUGE EXCITEMENT\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Willy Hernang\u00f3mez has officially been presented as a new Unicaja M\u00e1laga<\/strong> player. The Spanish national team captain expressed his excitement about starting this new chapter and highlighted how important the opportunity to work with Txus Vidorreta<\/strong> was in his decision.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI want to thank the President, Juanma, Unicaja and Txus for giving me the opportunity to wear this great jersey with so much history. I have so much desire to give 120% in every practice and every game.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Hernang\u00f3mez also spoke about the reception he has received from the M\u00e1laga fans:<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m very happy, especially because of the welcome and the messages I\u2019ve received from the fans in M\u00e1laga. I have nothing but words of gratitude and a lot of excitement and desire to start working.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI WANT TO FEEL LIKE A PLAYER AGAIN\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The Spanish center explained what he is looking for in M\u00e1laga and why Unicaja was the right destination.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
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\u201cUnicaja is a great club. For me, it\u2019s an opportunity to work very hard, to be surrounded by a club, teammates and a coaching staff, and I\u2019m sure that together we\u2019ll do everything possible to compete.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cIndividually, I want to feel like a player, enjoy basketball and what better place to do that than M\u00e1laga? It\u2019s an opportunity to work, learn and continue growing as a player. I still have many things to improve.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

VIDORRETA WAS CRUCIAL TO HIS DECISION<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The chance to work with the experienced Spanish coach again played a major role in Hernang\u00f3mez\u2019s decision.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
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\u201cHe was very, very, very important in my decision. The fact that Unicaja and Txus came together made it easier for me to come here.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Hernang\u00f3mez already knows Vidorreta from their time together with the Spanish national team:<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe\u2019s a coach with a huge history, someone who has made his teams winners and competitive and has helped his players reach their best level.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m going to be a sponge and do everything he asks of me. Listening to him, learning, following his instructions and giving my best every day will make everything work much better.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI DON\u2019T FEEL LIKE A LEADER\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Despite being Spain\u2019s captain and having NBA and EuroBasket MVP experience, Hernang\u00f3mez wants to approach his new challenge with humility.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
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\u201cWe have a great roster. I don\u2019t feel any pressure and I don\u2019t consider myself a leader.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Then came perhaps the most memorable line of his presentation:<\/p>\n

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\u201cAs I told Juanma and Txus during the summer, I\u2019ve put my helmet on. I\u2019m just another soldier and I\u2019m going to war like everyone else.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Hernang\u00f3mez also emphasized his desire to learn from the players who have been at Unicaja for longer, mentioning Alberto D\u00edaz, Kendrick Perry, Nihad Djedovic, Tyler Kalinoski and David Kravish<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cEVERYTHING MOTIVATES ME\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The new Unicaja project represents a fresh source of motivation after his experience with Barcelona.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
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\u201cEverything motivates me. I\u2019m really excited. It\u2019s a new and ambitious project, we have many new players, a great coach and experienced teammates.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Basketball Champions League<\/strong> is another source of motivation for Hernang\u00f3mez:<\/p>\n

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\u201cFor me, playing in the BCL is a motivation. It\u2019s the only competition I was missing, because I had already played in the EuroCup.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cMY BROTHER TOLD ME THERE WAS NO BETTER PLACE FOR ME\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Juancho Hernang\u00f3mez also played a role in his brother\u2019s decision.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
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\u201cBefore making a decision, we always talk about things as a family. My brother told me there was no better place for me than Unicaja \u2014 because of the club, the city and Txus. That\u2019s honestly what he told me.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

BERNI RODR\u00cdGUEZ IS LIKE AN OLDER BROTHER<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Hernang\u00f3mez also spoke about his special relationship with Unicaja legend Berni Rodr\u00edguez.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
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\u201cBerni has always been like an older brother to me. He was one of the first people to message me. He has always taken great care of me.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cSomeone like Berni, a legend of this club, being like an older brother to me is very important. I\u2019ll learn from him and listen to every piece of advice he has to give me.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\ud83c\udf99\ufe0fWilly Hernang\u00f3mez: “Soy un soldado m\u00e1s y voy a la guerra como todos”<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf0 NOTICIA https:\/\/t.co\/VeQpFPqsLS<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc9a\ud83d\udc9c #YoSoyDelUnicaja<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6E8VP88rcS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UnicajaCB (@unicajaCB) August 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n