What Gunars Grinvalds Brings to UCLA Basketball Next Season

Mick Cronin has added another piece to the roster for next season.

18-year-old 6’7″ forward from Real Madrid, Gunars Grinvalds, has announced that he will play for the Bruins next season.

Grinvalds started playing professionally in Spain with Real Madrid last season, making debuts in both the ACB and EuroLeague in 2025. The 18-year-old helped Real Madrid win the LigaU title and shone during the NextGen EuroLeague Finals.

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Grinvalds will join a freshman class with 4-star power forward Joe Philon and 3-star power forward Javonte Floyd. Along with the freshman class, he will also be joining a Bruins team that added four players through the transfer portal, including Texas Tech guard Jaylen Petty, Auburn center Filip Jovic, Mississippi State forward Sergej Macura, and Butler guard Azavier Robinson.

Mar 19, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin speaks with the media before a practice session ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Grinvalds’ Impact With UCLA Next Season

Grinvalds fills a major need for the Bruins at the small forward position. He’ll compete for playing time on the wing along with Philon, but it’s possible the Bruins choose to play two power forwards or three guards to give Grinvalds more time to develop.

Mar 12, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin gestures to his team against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

Grinvalds played for Latvia at the 2024 U16 EuroBasket Tournament, averaging 9.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game across seven games. He has a smooth shooting stroke and the requisite size to attack the basket. Grinvalds is also fundamentally sound as a ball handler and playmaker.

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The three-point shot stands out the most about Grinvalds’ game. The Bruins have some…

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Publish date : 2026-06-06 10:00:00

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