Spain's 2006 Basketball World Cup victory in Saitama

The 2006 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Saitama, Japan, remains a landmark event in international basketball history. During the tournament, Spain secured a narrow 75-74 semifinal victory against Argentina in a high-stakes match. Despite a late three-point attempt by Argentina's Andrés ‘El Chapu’ Nocioni failing to seal the game, Spain's comeback, fueled by Sergio Rodríguez and Rudy Fernández, propelled them to the final.

Spain ultimately claimed the world championship title by defeating Greece with a decisive 70-47 score in the final. Although Pau Gasol suffered a serious injury during the semifinal, he was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, averaging 18.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The victory marked the beginning of a golden era for Spanish basketball, characterized by a collective team spirit and an undefeated run throughout the competition.