LILLE (France) - Rudy Fernandez made history in Spain's opening game of 2024 Paris and the first man to play in six Olympic Basketball Tournaments jumped ahead in two all-time Top 10 leaderboards in the country's second game - steals and games won.
Fernandez collected 10 points with three three-pointers, one rebound, one assist and one steal in helping Spain beat Greece 84-77 for their first victory of this year's Olympics.
The Spanish veteran was playing a big role in trying to fend off a Greece comeback but he was forced to leave the game after falling and getting his head hit by the shin of teammate Juancho Hernangomez in the fourth quarter. He had to be helped off the court and after some time on the bench was helped to the catacombs of the arena and did not return.
The steal pushed the 39-year-old Fernandez into second place in steals in Olympics history with 38. He pulled even with USA great Chris Paul and stands five steals behind record holder Andrei Kirilenko's 43 steals.
Most steals made all-time at the Olympics
*Active players
The steal was introduced as a statistic for the Olympics in 1996.
The other category was games won as Fernandez has now been part of 23 Spain victories - pulling him tied with USA's David Robinson for fifth place.
Most games won all-time at the Olympics
*Active players
Before getting injured, Fernandez caught fire in the fourth quarter and drained two three-pointers - one an unbelievable contested triple from way downtown - to give him three for the game. The Spanish legend remains just one triple from tying with Carmelo Anthony of USA for ninth place with 57 triples.
Most three-pointers made all-time at the Olympics
*Active players
The three-pointer was introduced as a statistic for the Olympics in 1988.
FIBA