Onlvaro Cárdenas (Granada) He has barely made any noise until he reaches the elite. At 23 years old, he plays for the Greek Peristeri on loan from Valencia Basket and it just was convened by Chus Mateo for the FIB WindowsA for qualification for the World Cup in Qatar in 2027. His is an extraordinary case, since he already made his senior debut – in a friendly against Germany before the Eurobasket – without having gone through an ACB quarry, without having been international in training categories and without even having been called up for a regional team. This is his career and this is who he is.
Ask. Because of his career, people don't give him a face or know him much. Who is Álvaro Cárdenas?
Answer. A normal kid from Granada. Hardworking, because I have worked hard and, although people do not know me, because it is true that I have never gone through any important youth academy, any ACB club, not even the Foundation, I think I have been creating my own path and now they are beginning to know me a little more.
Q. You have never been international in training categories.
R. No never. Not even in the Andalusian regional team.
Q. And, suddenly, absolute international.
R. The truth is that it has been crazy. Everything has happened very quickly, but I know the work behind it and that it is not a coincidence.
Álvaro Cárdenas directs an attack for the national team with Chus Mateo in the background.
Q. When you were little, your father trained you.
R. Yes, many years ago. He came to coach CB Granada in ACB many years ago, but he left professional basketball when my brother and I were born because he wanted to dedicate himself more to his family. Now he is a basketball teacher at INEF in Granada. He is educating coaches at the La Zubia Basketball Club. That's where I played since I was a cadet. He is largely to blame for me being where I am right now.
I have worked hard and, although people don't know me, I have been creating my own path. Now they are starting to know me a little more
Q. Were they ones who took their work home or didn't they talk much about basketball?
R. No, no, no. Your father is tougher than all the classmates and my mother, in between trying to lower the atmosphere (laughs). We haven't had many problems. He has never scolded me for trying new things as long as the effort was there and my spirit was to help the team, to be competitive. There has been a moment in my career that has had to educate me to be a team player and instill in me some values that were necessary and perhaps we have gone a week without speaking to each other, but in general it has been a very positive experience and it has not interfered with our father-son relationship.
Q. Growing up, who did you look up to? Who were your idols?
R. One that I have always loved has been Chacho, for his creativity. He has been the player I have paid the most attention to. Spanish guards like Ricky, Calderón… are people that I have also watched a lot. And the typical thing I see from NBA players like Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul… who always attract a lot of attention.
Álvaro Cárdenas, defended by Alberto Díaz.
Q. Have you ever been told that you physically look a bit like Ricky Rubio?
R. Yes. But a little bit no. In fact, Alberto (Díaz) calls me Ricky. We both have good eyebrows, a good nose and a lot of hair (laughs).
Q. How did going to the Czech Republic when you were 18 come about?
R. With just turned 18. At the end of my junior period, we had the intention of going to the United States, but it seemed very far away. So it's not like now that there are 40 Spanish players in the NCAA. Maybe there were one or two. The Czech Republic was like a kind of 'prep school' that they call it in the United States, where what they sell you is that they have contacts in universities, they play games, they also toured the United States… The objective, basically, is to give you visibility.
In the end it was COVID and we played only four games in total and it became very complicated. We couldn't go to the United States, the coaches couldn't come here… Universities had to rely on a video instead of seeing you live and it wasn't the same. For one reason or another, I got a single offer from San Jose State and I didn't think about it.
I would classify myself as a generator. Passing may be one of my strengths, but I don't want to be a one-dimensional player. I consider myself a good defender and I will continue to grow in general
Q. And a good experience?
R. I learned a lot, although it was not easy at all. I had a hard time because it was very difficult to be competitive with the team we had and the resources the university had, but having played so many minutes has helped me grow a lot.
Q. What did you study there?
R. kinesiology
Q. Do you plan to practice in the distant future?
R. If I'm honest, no. I think that was a bit like a beginning to do physical therapy or a physical trainer. Right now it doesn't really catch my attention and I'm trying to advance in my sports career and we'll see what happens in the future. Hopefully it will be a very long race.
Q. You changed universities in your last year and went to Boise, where you became one of the best passers in the NCAA (6.9 assists on average). Would you say passing is your best quality? Because he can also score a lot, he is a good defender…
R. I would tell you that I would qualify myself more as a generator, not just a passer. Sometimes the problem I've had in the past is that maybe I was trying to be too generous. He wasn't a threat at all. Passing may be one of my strengths, but I don't want to be a one-dimensional player. I consider myself a good defender and I think I will continue to grow as a player in general.
Álvaro Cárdenas shoots a basket in the match between Peristeri and Surne Bilbao Basket.
Q. The time has come to be a professional and you decide for Valencia. Did you have more offers?
R. Yes, we had a few more offers. We were talking, but when the Valencia thing came up… You can't say no to a club like that. It was an incredible opportunity for me and we decided to take it. We are very happy with the decision.
Q. And they give in to the Greek Peristeri. (Averages 13.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 15.6 efficiency). Zero fears of going abroad throughout his life.
R. Zero. Already four countries. Once signed by Valencia, other clubs were also interested in a loan. When the Peristeri thing came out, the coach, Vasilis Xanthopoulos, who was a very renowned player there in Greece, called me. He basically told me that he wanted me to be his starting point guard and that he trusted me a lot and that he saw me as a fundamental piece. Obviously that is not the ACB, but it is a top League in Europe. Also, the team is playing the FIBA Eurocup and adding more minutes and more games is good. The more experience you have, the better.
I see the future of the team with a lot of positivity. It will be in good hands and I hope that together we can take it to what it has had in the past
Q. During the season Chus Mateo has been following you, who went to see you at a game in Bilbao.
R. Yes, he was already in Bilbao with me. We had a coffee and it was very good.
Q. How do you find out that you are going to be summoned to the Windows?
R. It was a week or two before the list came out. Chus and I had had a lot of contact during the year, after the games. It shows that there is a group of very hard-working coaches who are very aware of that bubble of players who could be in the Window. They gave me the news that they want to have me in the Window and for me it was incredible news, because in the end it is a dream come true. Any kid, especially with a path similar to mine, which may be different from the rest, is what we dream about when we are little.
Q. What have you asked of you in these first training sessions?
R. Let it be myself. I think that is what he is asking of all the players, that we are not different from those who have played well in our clubs. For me, to be aggressive, to defend well, to step on the paint, to not lose balls… That type of things.
Álvaro Cárdenas, defended by Dennis Schroder in the friendly against Germany in which he made his debut.
Q. How do you remember your debut against Germany before Eurobasket?
R. He had had a good workout the day before, but I thought he was just coming to lend a hand. I didn't know if they were going to give me any minutes and I think I was the first change in the game. Everything went very well. I believed I was prepared for that moment because I was doing well and I was confident. It was an incredible experience. Furthermore, the pavilion was full, against a team like Germany, which was the current World Champion… Better, impossible.
Q. He played 12 minutes, scored four points, recovered three balls… That's when many people asked themselves: 'How do I not know this guy?'.
R. Clear. In the end, I have been a little lost from people's orbit.
Q. A young man who is almost a debutant with, we hope, a lot of international career, how do you see the future of the national team?
R. With a lot of positivity. I think there is a group of players who still need a little more seniority and forcefulness, but young people with a lot of quality are coming on strong. I think the team will be in good hands. I hope that together we can bring the team back to what it has had in the past.
