NBA star Pau Gasol hopes Pepu Hernandez is given enough time to make an impact as Spain coach, believing that hasn’t always been the case for his predecessors.

Hernandez, who has signed a contract through to EuroBasket 2007, will officially take over on June 1 as the replacement for Mario Pesquera, who was sacked just before Christmas.

Should Spain earn a medal at the tournament they will be hosting and qualify for the 2008 Olympics, Hernandez will automatically be granted an extension to his contract.

Gasol admits he has only second-hand knowledge of the former Adecco Estudiantes boss but believes it is vital that the 47-year-old be allowed to build his own legacy with the national team.

“I have never had the chance to work with him but he has very good references,” Gasol told Spanish newspaper Marca.

“Team-mates of mine from the national team who have worked with him speak well of him and these days that is rare because not many players speak well of their coaches.

“The only thing that I ask for is that it is a smooth transition and that the coach is left to do his job,” he added.

“We have had five coaches since 1999 and, although everything is down to results at the end of the day, I think that it is too many.”

The Memphis Grizzlies forward sat out EuroBasket 2005 as he recovered from a foot injury that forced him to miss the tail-end of the NBA season last year.

Without the former Barcelona man, who helped his country win the silver medal in the 2003 EuroBasket, Spain finished outside the medals in the European Championships after losing to France in the play-off for third and fourth place.

However, Gasol is almost certain to play at this year’s FIBA World Championship in Japan, where Spain - under the guidance of Hernandez - will expect to challenge for honours.