Joan Creus Explained

Joan Creus
Career Position:Point guard
Height Ft:5
Height In:9.25
Weight Lb:180
Nationality:Spanish
Birth Date:24 November 1956
Birth Place:Ripollet, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Career Start:1973
Career End:1999
Years1:1973–1974
Team1:Ripollet
Years2:1975–1977
Team2:L'Hospitalet
Years3:1977–1980
Team3:Granollers
Years4:1980–1982
Team4:Barcelona
Years5:1982–1993
Team5:Granollers
Years6:1993–1999
Team6:Manresa
Cyears1:2002–2008
Cteam1:Spain (assistant)
Highlights:As player:

Joan "Chichi" Creus Molist (born November 24, 1956) is a Spanish former professional basketball player, coach and executive. During his playing career, he played at the point guard position.

Professional career

Creus spent his entire 25-year club career in Catalonia. He first played with the Granollers, with a two-year period with FC Barcelona,[1] where he won one Spanish National League championship and two Spanish National Cups.

In 1993, after the dissolution of the Granollers, Creus signed with the Spanish club TDK Manresa. He led the club to win the two only championships in its history: the 1996 Spanish Copa del Rey and the Spanish Liga ACB in the 1997–98 season. The club's ACB league championship in 1998 is considered to be one of the biggest miracles in the history of Spanish basketball.[2] Creus was named the MVP of both competitions.

In 1999, Creus announced his retirement from playing pro club basketball. He is considered to be an historic player of the Spanish Liga ACB, after having played 20,211 minutes in 585 games, with 7,929 points and 1,461 assists.[3]

National team career

Creus joined Spain's senior national team for the 1983 EuroBasket, where he won the silver medal. He also played with Spain at the 1986 FIBA World Championship.

Coaching career

After his retirement, Creus became an assistant basketball coach for Spain's senior national team, in 2002. With Spain, he won a gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship and two silver medals at the 2003 EuroBasket and the 2007 EuroBasket.

Executive career

Creus left the Spanish national team in 2008, to become the general manager of the professional club basketball team FC Barcelona. Eight years later, in June 2016, Creus resigned from that position.[4]

Personal life

His son, Joan, is also a professional basketball player. In 2015, he played in the Liga ACB with Estudiantes Madrid.

Honors and awards

With Manresa

(1) 1998

(1) 1996

With Barcelona

(1) 1981

(2) 1981, 1982

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Creus to become technical secretary. FC Barcelona. 13 May 2008.
  2. News: El TDK conquista la Liga ACB. El País. Spanish. 5 June 1998. Iturriaga. Juanma.
  3. Web site: Joan Creus se retira del baloncesto. El Mundo. 27 April 1999. Spanish.
  4. Web site: Joan Creus leaving Barcelona. Eurohoops. 23 June 2016. 23 June 2016.