Chichi Creus: 24 years in the elite without losing hope
Joan Creus built a 24-year career in Spanish basketball by rejecting large financial offers to prioritize playing many minutes and enjoying the sport. His legacy includes titles with TDK Manresa and a career that proves greatness is not measured only by the titles won.
True greatness in sports is not measured solely by titles or money earned, but by the ability to remain relevant year after year and to keep the flame of competition alive. This is the case of Joan 'Chichi' Creus (Ripollet, Barcelona, November 24, 1956), who, after 24 years of active career in the elite of Spanish basketball, has shown that passion and hard work surpass any age barrier. At 1.76 meters tall and lacking a privileged physique, Creus became one of the best point guards in the history of the ACB, logging the most minutes in this competition with a total of 20,216.
A complete point guard who chose to enjoy
Throughout his years as a professional, Creus left an indelible mark on clubs like Granollers and TDK Manresa, turning down excellent offers from top teams. However, his priority was always to play many minutes and enjoy himself. His greatest feats were leading TDK, a modest team, to win the Copa del Rey in the 95/96 season and the League in 97/98, being named MVP in both tournaments. These victories demonstrated that with a good atmosphere, commitment, and high-level players, it was possible to compete against teams with larger budgets.
The decision to reject the offer from Pamesa Valencia was one of the hardest of his career. Financially it was very tempting, but Creus prioritized staying in Granollers, where he felt at home. "I prefer to enjoy playing rather than focusing on the financial aspect and winning titles," he explained. That life philosophy accompanied him throughout his career as a player, although he acknowledged that over time he began to question that decision when the club was relegated.
Routine, discipline, and limitless excellence
What set Creus apart from other players was his obsession with continuous improvement. In Manresa, he developed extremely rigorous shooting routines: he made a minimum of 100 three-pointers daily, aside from team practices. His routine included finishing with 15 consecutive three-pointers in three different ways: coming in a run, off the dribble, and stationary. "You couldn’t leave until you did it," he recalled.
His dedication was such that he arrived 30 or 45 minutes early to practices. On his first day in Manresa, he found the gym closed because he arrived so early. In the 15 years of his career, he did not miss a single game. Óscar Cervantes described him this way: "If I had to write a book about the perfect player, I would write it about him. In the four years we coincided, he didn’t miss a single game." This absolute consistency was key to maintaining a competitive level for almost two decades.
Manresa: the modest team that won titles
At 36 years old, Creus arrived at Manresa after Granollers disappeared from the top tier. The initial decision was to share minutes as a point guard, but he quickly became a key player. What happened next was historic: a team with a modest budget won the Copa del Rey in the 95/96 season and the League in 97/98. "I don’t think anything like this will happen again in Spanish basketball," he stated about the feat of winning two major titles with one of the lowest budgets in the competition.
The key was a combination of circumstances: a good atmosphere, high-level players committed to the project, and a collective mindset where what mattered was the team. Roger Esteller, his teammate at that time, described him as the best shooter he had ever played with. In the cup final, Creus made the decisive three-pointer, although he acknowledged that the play was designed for Esteller, who had just hit another vital three-pointer that kept them in the game.
Sports director of Barcelona: betting on the future
After retiring at 42, Creus remained linked to basketball in other roles. He was an assistant coach for the Spanish national team under Moncho López, Mario Pesquera, and Pepu Hernández, participating in the achievement of the 2006 World Cup. Later, from 2008 to 2016, he was the sports director of FC Barcelona, where he backed Xavi Pascual as coach when the club was looking for a "top coach." That brave decision turned out to be correct, with Pascual remaining in charge for eight years.
As sports director, Creus implemented clear rules: horizontal lists instead of vertical ones for signings, ensuring that at least 50% of signed players turned out well. He signed players like Juan Carlos Navarro, Ricky Rubio, Marcelinho Huertas, and Mario Hezonja. His most focused scouting was on Aleksandar Vezenkov, whom he watched in every game for a year in Greece before signing him at 18. He also had the chance to sign Nikola Jokic, but a series of circumstances, including a poor game by the Serbian and a lack of clear financial proposal from the agent, meant that the player eventually ended up in the NBA.
His departure from Barça came in 2016 after failing to secure one of the three major titles (League, Cup, or Euroleague). Although the team was competitive, finishing first in the regular league and almost reaching the Euroleague Final Four, Creus felt it was time to make way for others. His experience in sports management allowed him to understand both the players' needs and those of the club, always seeking a middle ground.
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