By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
LILLE, France – “I don’t who and when can tie this or surpass it”. Jordi Fernandez gave his flowers to Rudy Fernandez after the final buzzer.
Canada beat Spain and eliminated them from the 2024 Paris Olympics, at the end of the line for team captain Rudy Fernandez.
A six-time Olympian, two-time silver medal winner, and once bronze, two-time World Champions, and four-time Eurobasket winner, plus three-time EuroLeague champion, EuroCup winner, and seven-times Spanish champion, Rudy Fernandez is already a legend of the game.
“I have known him since he was 17 years old and he was playing for my hometown team, I was privileged to have a relationship with him, to work with him, and to witness his incredible career”, said Canada’s coach Jordi Fernandez who is born and raised Spaniard and his relationship with Rudy starts from their days in Joventut Badalona.
“It’s a shame to end it like this but he has also given everything for this team for many years”, added his longtime teammate Sergio Llull, talking after the game.
As Llull explained: “Anyone else would not have played in his situation with the injury he suffered the other day and he has decided to go out and fight as he always does. Personally, I am proud to have shared so many years with him, he can be proud of the career he has had, I think he has been an example for many players.”
Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo couldn’t be more proud of his captain: “It has been a privilege to coach him, very few players would have tried to play today in those conditions. He did and we owed him the opportunity to be able to exit as a player who has made the maximum effort, as he has done throughout his career. He is an example that we have to follow. We surely have a big handicap at a physical level with many national teams as Rudy has had individually with many rivals and he has never compromised, he has always fought against it. Most of the time with success and other times not achieving it and giving to his rival the hand for being better, but always being there until the last moment. An example of commitment not only to these players but to those who come after and to the athletes of all sports. It’s a privilege to have shared so many games and championships with him.”
Photo credit: FIBA