MADRID (Spain) - Rudy Fernandez has put it all on the line for Spain in his glorious basketball career, helping the country win two FIBA Basketball World Cups, four FIBA EuroBaskets and three Olympic medals - two silver and one bronze.
He has played at every Olympics since 2004. Now 39, Fernandez wants to retire after the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris.
"One of my priorities is to fulfill my father's dream, to be able to experience a pre-Olympic and try to qualify and experience an Olympics," he said at a press conference. "That is also why I am here, I don't want to deceive anyone. I want to earn my place, to be among the 12 and for Sergio (Scariolo) to call me like he has done all these years."
For Spain to compete in France, they must first win the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia.
Heading into this summer, here are Fernandez's top five Olympic moments.
5 - Fernandez steals some of the limelight against hosts China
In 2008, with all eyes on China's Yao Ming and Spain's Pau Gasol, Fernandez did his bit to make sure the country got an important 85-75 triumph after overtime. Fernandez had 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. Spain went on to claim the silver medal.
4 - Rudy rocks Lithuania with 18 in the Semi-Final
Whether it was diving on the floor for loose balls, crashing the boards for rebounds or putting ball in the basket, Fernandez did it all in 2008 against Lithuania in Spain's 91-86 victory that catapulted the team into the Beijing Final. He had 18 points, seven rebounds and a steal as Spain reached the Olympic Gold Medal Game for the first time since 1984 and set up a rematch against the USA, who had won their Preliminary Round encounter, 119-82.
3 - An Olympic career-high 23 points
Nothing brought out the best in Fernandez like games against Argentina. In 2016, he led Spain in minutes with 30 but also had a game-high 23 points to condemn the South American giants to a Quarter-Final matchup against USA and secure a Quarter-Final for Spain against France. Fernandez was excellent, drilling four of five shots from long range and eight of 10 overall.
2 - The workhorse in the 2012 Final
In a legendary Gold Medal Game, Rudy was so good defensively and had so much confidence that Scariolo couldn't afford to take him off the floor. He logged a team-high 37 minutes and had 14 points, six rebounds and a steal but the USA edged Spain 107-100 for the second straight time in the Olympic Final.
1 - The Dunk on Dwight
In his second Olympics, in Beijing, Fernandez saved his best for last, the Gold Medal Game against USA. With USA on top 103-92 and just 5:15 remaining, he dribbled right and just past Dwight Howard before going up for a one-handed jam. Howard swung hard at the ball with his left hand but failed to prevent the Spaniard from dunking and keeping Spain's hopes alive.
Fernandez finished the game with 22 points but USA won, 118-107.
FIBA