Spanish Center Roberto Dueñas will see his jersey #12 being retired by his former team AXA FC Barcelona this Sunday during the season opener at home against Alta Gestion Fuenlabrada. Duenas has been drafted by the Chicago Bulls back in 1997 at the 58th spot of the NBA Draft.
Dueñas was known during his playing career for being one of the slowest Centers that ever played Basketball. However, he was incredibly successful doing his job. Of course, being 2m21 tall and weighting around 140kg was helping him a lot to develop into a inside presence. Roberto won six Spanish League titles, 2 time the Copa del Rey and also one Euroleague title back in 2003. He was the MVP of the 1997 ACB League Finals and participated three times to the Spanish All-Star game.
Duenas, who has been discovered in a commuter bus at the age of 16 in Madrid was considered during his career as the perfect teammate. He never really considered to go play for the Chicago Bulls after his Draft in 1997 because he preferred to stay at home in Spain with his family. Now after he announced his retirement at the age of 31 in July, he will see his #12 retired and bring his career to a marvelous end.
