Fran Vázquez

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vázquez and the second or maternal family name is González.

Francisco Vázquez González (Galician pronunciation: [fɾanˈθiskʊ ˈβaθkɪθ]; born 1 May 1983), more commonly known as Fran Vázquez, is a retired Spanish professional basketball player. Originally drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2005, Vázquez decided to remain in the Spanish ACB League rather than enter the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is the Spanish League's all-time leader in blocked shots.^[1]

Fran Vázquez

Vázquez catching a rebound with Baloncesto Málaga
Personal information
Born	(1983-05-01) 1 May 1983 (age 42) Chantada, Lugo, Spain
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	232 lb (105 kg)
Career information
NBA draft	2005: 1st round, 11th overall pick
Drafted by	Orlando Magic
Playing career	2001–2020
Position	Center
Career history
2001–2005	Unicaja
2003	→Bilbao Basket
2003–2004	→Gran Canaria
2005–2006	Girona
2006–2012	FC Barcelona
2012–2016	Unicaja
2016–2018	Canarias
2018–2020	Zaragoza
Career highlights
EuroLeague champion (2010) FIBA Champions League champion (2017) 3× Liga ACB champion (2009, 2011, 2012) 4× Spanish Cup winner (2005, 2007, 2010, 2011) 3× Spanish Super Cup winner (2009–2011) EuroLeague blocks leader (2009) Liga ACB Defensive Player of the Year (2010) All-Liga ACB Team (2009) Spanish Cup MVP (2010) FIBA Intercontinental Cup champion (2017) Spanish League career stats leaders Spanish League all-time leader in blocks
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals Representing  Spain Men's Basketball FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship 2002 Lithuania

Professional career

Vázquez was selected 11th overall in the 2005 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic. He made headlines when he announced that he would remain playing in the Spanish ACB League for at least the following season, after signing for Akasvayu Girona.^[2] This came as a surprise to the Magic, who expected him to join Dwight Howard in the front court for the 2005–06 season, and it enraged many Magic fans.^[3]

Vázquez originally gave no indication that he would be returning to Europe after he was drafted, and had indicated that he would like to join the Magic. The Magic retained his NBA rights while he played in non-NBA leagues. In 2010, Vázquez signed a one-year contract extension with the EuroLeague club Barcelona.^[4]

In July 2012, Barcelona decided to trade his rights to Unicaja for the rights of Álex Abrines, who moved to FC Barcelona.^[5]

On 17 April 2016, in a game against MoraBanc Andorra, Vázquez became the top shot-blocker in Liga ACB history, after surpassing the record of 671 blocks made by Fernando Romay.^[6]

On 29 July 2016 Vázquez signed a two-year deal with Iberostar Tenerife.^[7]

On 18 July 2018 he signed a two-year deal with Tecnyconta Zaragoza of the Liga ACB.^[8]

On 7 May 2020 Vázquez announced his retirement.^[9]

On 6 July 2024, the Orlando Magic finally renounced his draft rights to clear room under the salary cap.^[10]

International career

Vázquez played with the senior men's Spain national team at the EuroBasket 2005 and the 2010 FIBA World Championship.^[11]

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	PIR	Performance index rating
Bold	Career high

EuroLeague

†	Denotes season in which Vázquez won the EuroLeague
*	Led the league

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG	PIR
2002–03	Málaga	15	0	7.7	.565	—	.833	1.5	—	.3	.4	2.4	2.7
2004–05		14	13	18.1	.691	.000	.727	4.1	.5	.1	1.5	7.9	9.6
2006–07	Barcelona	23	11	17.4	.535		.667	3.2	.8	.5	1.2	6.6	7.5
2007–08		23	10	15.3	.570	.000	.781	2.9	.6	.3	.9	6.7	7.5
2008–09		23*	3	19.3	.674	—	.605	4.7	.7	.2	1.7*	8.7	11.4
2009–10†		22*	2	17.6	.680	—	.632	3.5	.8	.7	1.1	7.5	9.8
2010–11		20	7	17.2	.653	—	.750	4.4	.6	.3	1.0	8.1	10.6
2011–12		21	1	13.6	.603	.000	.739	3.2	.3	.3	1.0	4.4	6.9
2012–13	Málaga	24	19	15.9	.554	.000	.900	3.1	.4	.4	.7	5.4	5.0
2013–14		22	11	18.3	.589	—	.696	4.5	.6	.5	1.1	6.5	8.4
2014–15		24	11	20.1	.538	—	.754	4.8	1.0	.8	.8	7.2	10.0
2015–16		23	6	14.8	.523	—	.750	2.7	.2	.2	.3	5.4	4.5
Career		254	94	16.5	.597	.000	.723	3.6	.6	.4	1.0	6.5	7.9

Awards and accomplishments

Club honors

• EuroLeague (1):
  • 2010
• ACB League (Spanish League) (3)
  • 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12
• Spanish King's Cup (4):
  • 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011
• Spanish Super Cup (3):
  • 2009, 2010, 2011

Spanish junior national team

• 2002 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship:  Silver

Individual awards

• Spanish King's Cup MVP (1):
  • 2010
• ACB League Player of the Week (5):
  • Weeks 17 and 27 (2004–05)
  • Weeks 15, 26 and 27 (2008–09)
• ACB League Player of the Month (1):
  • March (2009)
• All-ACB Team (1):
  • 2009
• Liga ACB all-time leader in blocked shots