Joel Parra


Joel Parra López is a Spanish professional basketball player for FC Barcelona of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He has also represented the Spain men's national [basketball team|Spain national team]. Standing at 6 ft 8 in, Parra can play both as a small forward and a power forward.

Early life and youth career

Joel Parra started playing basketball in the youth ranks of Joventut de Badalona, which he joined at only four years old. Parra would also play for Arenys Bàsquet in the Liga EBA during his youth career.

Professional career

Joventut Badalona (2017–2023)

Parra made his debut in Liga ACB for Joventut in 2017, in a 86–74 defeat against Unicaja Málaga. Parra would also play in the LEB Oro during a loan spell at CB Prat in the 2018–19 [LEB Oro season|2018-19 season]. He would become a first-team Joventut player in the 2019-20 season, achieving an important role for the team during the following seasons.
Parra would be named ACB Best Young Player of the 2021-22 season, also making the All-ACB Best Young Players Team that same season. Playing for the Catalans, he would reach the semi-finals of the EuroCup in the EuroCup Basketball|2022-23 season]. Parra would terminate his contract with Joventut at the end of the 2022-23 season, after six seasons with the Badalona-based club.

FC Barcelona (2023–present)

On 11 July 2023, Parra would sign a four-year contract with Joventut's traditional rivals, FC Barcelona of the Liga ACB and EuroLeague. After an underwhelming first season, with little participation in Barcelona's rotation, Parra was left out of the Spanish Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. This prompted Parra to undergo a major physical change to improve his condition.
Parra's role grew in his second season at Barcelona, especially after the injury of several frontcourt players in the roster. He recorded his best performance with a double-double in a crucial EuroLeague away win against Fenerbahçe, substantially improving Barcelona's playoff aspirations. On June 19, 2025, Barcelona announced the extension of Parra's contract until 2028, emphasizing his improving performances and his commitment to the team in a statement.
On December 7, 2025, he set his best scoring numbers with Barcelona with 24 points and 9 rebounds in a home win against BC Andorra. His performance earned him the MVP award for round 9 of the 2025–26 ACB season. On December 12, 2025, Parra suffered a nasal fracture in a EuroLeague game against Olympiacos.

National team career

Parra has played in several international tournaments with the youth ranks of the Spanish national team, winning the U16 European Championship in 2016 [FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship|2016].
He was selected to the senior Spanish team for the 2022 EuroBasket in Germany, in which Spain were crowned champions in a final against France.
Parra has also played for the Catalan national team in an exhibition game in July 2023.

Awards and accomplishments

Individual

Spanish junior national team

Spanish national team