VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France — The publish from the Spanish basketball federation to congratulate Rudy Fernandez on his profession got here instantly after the sport, and just one phrase was vital.
“Gracias.”
Fernandez’s sixth and ultimate Olympics — and presumably, the tip of his time as a participant — got here to an finish Friday, when Spain was eradicated from the Paris Video games after falling 88-85 to Canada in a group-stage finale.
🇫🇷 @Paris2024 | Nadie ha vestido más veces la camiseta de #LaFamilia 🙏
2⃣6⃣6⃣ internacionalidades ©️1⃣1⃣ medallas 🥇6⃣ títulos 🏆
Qué honor, @rudy5fernandez 🤩 GRACIAS ❤️#SomosEquipo pic.twitter.com/TSHGGGcpyB
— Baloncesto España (@BaloncestoESP) August 2, 2024
Had Spain received, it might have received the group and gone to the quarterfinals in Paris subsequent week. As an alternative, the run is over and Fernandez — who’s coping with a slew of accidents — took the Spain jersey off for possible the ultimate time after going scoreless in quarter-hour.
“We fought till the tip, which is what you must do if you signify this crew,” Fernandez stated. “It wasn’t to be, however I am leaving with an excellent feeling as a result of seeing the crew compete on this method offers me peace of thoughts for the current and the long run.”
Spain coach Sergio Scariolo stated he additionally thanked Fernandez.
“For me, it has been a privilege to coach him. I believe that only a few gamers would have tried to play at present in his situations, however we owed him the chance,” Scariolo stated. “As a participant who has made the utmost effort through the recreation, to present what he had, as he has accomplished all through his profession, is not he a little bit of an instance that we now have to observe?”
At 39, Fernandez has lengthy recognized that the Paris Video games — for which Spain needed to dig deep final month simply to qualify 00 could be his finale. He spent greater than half his life within the uniform of Spain’s senior nationwide crew, is the primary man to play in six Olympic basketball tournaments (Diana Taurasi of the U.S. has performed in six Olympic girls’s tournaments) and his listing of accolades is about nearly as good as one will discover within the worldwide recreation.
The highlights: two World Cup gold medals, three Olympic medals and 6 EuroBasket medals — 4 of them gold.
“I’ve recognized Rudy since he is 17, 18 years outdated,” stated Canada coach Jordi Fernandez, who grew up in Spain. “Now we have a private relationship. I’ve a variety of respect for him. It is an honor to simply not get to know him, but additionally to witness his profession and his legacy. An individual who’s performed in six Olympics, as a basketball participant, I do not know who’s going to be the subsequent one who’s going to perform that or cross that. However I give him a variety of credit score.
“The one factor I can say to him: Congratulations. He made me get pleasure from basketball for a lot of, many, a few years, beginning in my hometown and my residence crew. So, I am very proud of for him, for his household, and I want him the most effective for what’s coming now.”
Fernandez spent 4 years within the NBA, three with Portland and one with Denver. He was a member of the 2008-09 All-Rookie crew however ultimately went again residence to complete his profession with Actual Madrid.
Scariolo stated Fernandez’s willingness to battle via any problem could be a large a part of his legacy.
“It doesn’t matter what his private scenario, he was at all times there,” Scariolo stated. “That is an incredible instance for his teammates right here, for those coming after him and gamers everywhere in the world. As a result of not all people can have the leaping potential or the talents or the expertise or dimension. However all people ought to strive.”