By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following the 2024 Olympic Games and his sixth participation in the Olympics with Spain, Rudy Fernandez confirmed his decision to end his playing career.
Fernandez, 39, revisited retirement with an emotional message and an attached video on social media on Friday.
“This video concludes an incredible journey,” he described career highlights in a post on X, “A journey that I never thought I would live until I was 39 years old as a professional BASKETBALL player. I RETIRE with the feeling of having been a player committed to every team or club I have been on. I never dreamed of flying so far, or so high, and directly competing against whoever was in front of me. I will miss being on the court, but now it is time for me to build a new path and be with my family more than ever. Of course, I will continue to enjoy this wonderful sport, always. Thank you all for flying by my side.”
Con este video termina un viaje increíble, un viaje que ni mucho menos pensaba vivir hasta los 39 años como jugador profesional de BALONCESTO.
Me RETIRO con la sensación de haber sido un jugador comprometido con cada equipo o club en el que he estado.
Nunca soñé con volar tan… pic.twitter.com/iDcQLhUJOt— Rudy Fernandez (@rudy5fernandez) August 16, 2024
Fernandez became a three-time EuroLeague champion with Real Madrid in 2015, 2018, and 2023, besides winning numerous domestic championships. At the top of his career with Joventut Badalona, he won the FIBA EuroChallene in 2006 and EuroCup as the Finals MVP in 2008.
At the international level, success with Spain included two silver Olympic medals and one bronze, two FIBA World Cup titles, and four EuroBasket championships. Powering a resurgence of Spanish basketball, he was a regular for the senior national team over the last two decades.
Moving his talents to the NBA, he played for three seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers one with the Denver Nuggets, logging 267 appearances between 2008 and 2012.
“A true legend”
Reacting to the official announcement, Los Blancos presented more details about the legendary career of Fernandez.
Per the press release: “Following Rudy Fernández’s announcement of his retirement as a professional basketball player, Real Madrid C. F. would like to express its gratitude, affection and admiration to one of the greatest legends of our club and world basketball.
Since arriving at Real Madrid in 2011, he has served as a benchmark and one of the team’s great leaders, in one of the most triumphant eras in our club’s history.
During the 13 seasons over which he was a member of the team, Rudy Fernández became the third player in terms of total appearances for Real Madrid, with a tally of 754 games, winning 26 trophies: European Cups (3), Intercontinental Cup (1), League titles (7), Copa del Rey (6) and the Spanish Super Cups (9).
In addition, Rudy has twice been selected in the EuroLeague best team (2012-2013 and 2013-2014), twice in the Liga ACB XI (2012-2013 and 2013-2014) and was also MVP of the Spanish Super Cup (2012), MVP of the Copa del Rey (2015) and MVP of the final of the league play-offs (2017-2018).
Rudy Fernández spent four seasons in the NBA, three with the Portland Trail Blazers (2008-2011) and one with the Denver Nuggets (2011-2012).
In Spain, he started playing for Club Joventut Badalona, with which he debuted as a professional player and where he won 1 FIBA Eurocup (2006), 1 Copa del Rey (2008) and 1 ULEB Cup (2008), as well as being voted best young FIBA player in Europe (2006), MVP of the FIBA Eurocup (2006), best young player in the EuroLeague (2006-2007), part of the best five in the Liga Endesa in two seasons (2006-2007 and 2007-2008), MVP of the ULEB Cup final (2008) and MVP of the Copa del Rey on two occasions (2004 and 2008).
Rudy Fernández is also one of the all-time legends of the Spanish national team and, after his involvement as captain at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he became the most captained men’s basketball player in Olympic Games history, with a total of 6: Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
Rudy is also the player who has appeared the most times for the Spanish national team (266), with which he has also achieved an outstanding track record: 6 gold medals (2006 and 2019 World Cups and 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2022 European Championships), 3 silver medals (2008 and 2012 Olympic Games and 2007 European Championship) and 2 bronze medals (2016 Olympic Games and 2013 European Championship). On an individual scale, he was included in the best team of the 2009 European Championship in Poland.
Rudy Fernández is a true legend of Spanish and world sport. He completes a historic period in which madridistas and fans from all over the world have been delighted by his immense quality and his incredible interpretation of the game of basketball. Real Madrid is and always will be his home and wishes him and his family all the best in this new stage of his life.”