BARCELONA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Spain's national team has enjoyed tremendous success for more than a decade and much of it owes to the brilliance of Juan Carlos Navarro and Pau Gasol.

Navarro, a constant spark and leader for Barcelona in the Euroleague and Liga Endesa, and Gasol, a title-winning player in the NBA, have made a monumental impact for a Spain side that counts titles at the 2006 FIBA World Championship and EuroBaskets 2009 and 2011, and silver medals at the last two Olympics, among its many achievements.

Both players always show flair, grit and plenty of determination.

They're also the best of friends.

How important is that to a national team?

Aleskander Djordjevic, who will coach Serbia at the FIBA Basketball World Cup this summer, once said to FIBA.com that it's an advantage that Spain have over a lot of national teams.

All of the players are such good friends that they're eager to reunite every year.

"They can't wait for the first day of the training camp to get together to try and reach another gold medal," said Djordjevic.

"That's the best thing that can happen to an athlete. You forget about sacrifice, you forget about tough times.

"You think about how good you are going to feel playing with your best friend, your friends on the court and playing for your country. That's something special."

Navarro and Gasol have been friends for a long time.

Their bond was strengthened in the summer of 1999, when playing for Spain's triumphant squad at the FIBA World Championship for Junior Men in Portugal.

Navarro, who had already broken into FC Barcelona's first team, averaged 18.6 points per game and signed off with 25 and six assists in a 94-87 title game triumph over the United States.

He was an explosive scorer then, just as he is now.

Gasol was just scratching the surface of his potential at that tournament.

A tall, lanky but athletic center, he averaged 16.5 minutes per game yet didn't register a single block in the competition.

As he grew stronger and put more weight on his frame, Gasol blossomed.

While Navarro made his senior team bow at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Gasol first appeared for Spain's top team the next year at the EuroBasket in Turkey.

In their first FIBA World Championship, the 2002 event in Indianapolis, the numbers from both suggested that great things were about to happen for Spain.

Gasol (19.1ppg) and Navarro (14.1) led Spain to fifth-place finish.

They were among three teams to beat the host nation, a USA side full of NBA players.

After a runners-up finish to Lithuania at EuroBasket 2003 in Sweden, a Quarter-Final knockout by the Americans at the 2004 Olympics in Greece and a fourth-place finish at EuroBasket 2005 in Belgrade, their time to reign supreme arrived.

Gasol (21.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game) scooped the Most Valuable Player award at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

When an injury in a narrow Semi-Final triumph over Argentina prevented him from appearing in the title game against Greece, Navarro took over.

He erupted for 20 points as Spain romped to a 70-47 victory and their first world title.

The two have been terrific in the summers they have played for Spain since.

When Spain won their first EuroBasket gold in Poland in 2009, Gasol was the tournament MVP and two years later in Lithuania, Navarro claimed the MVP honor.

Neither featured last summer but each is a lock to play for Spain again in 2014.

They will compete on home soil at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Spain will play in Granada, in Group A, against Djordjevic's Serbia, France, Brazil, Iran and Egypt.

"I'm very excited about the World Cup," said Gasol, who recently decided to join the Chicago Bulls as a free agent.

"It's a very special opportunity to try and achieve something big, which is nothing other than to be world champions again.

"It would be incredible to achieve this at home but in order to do that, we need to follow a lot of steps, compete at the highest level, give everything and enjoy every moment."

Gasol cherishes the opportunity to be with the national team.

"To be a part of this group, of players and people, is a pleasure, and to be able to aspire to win a competition is something incredible," he said.

"I value that and would not only want to play for one or two years more, but 50, because the will and the enthusiasm to play for the national team will always be there."

Navarro, who had an operation last summer and like Gasol did not play at EuroBasket 2013, says he feels well both mentally and physically.

He loves his games with Barcelona, but places just as much importance on his time with the national team.

There are many in the country who are predicting a Spain v USA title showdown but the veteran says many games have to be won by both sides before that can happen.

"The United States has not won the World Cup before playing," he said, "you still have to earn it."

As for running onto the court in front of his own fans in Spain, Navarro said: "Being able to play in front of your supporters is going to be great but at the same time, there will be more pressure.

"We know that."

FIBA