LILLE (France) - We might never see another career like that of Spain's Rodolfo "Rudy" Fernandez.
Two FIBA Basketball World Cups won. Four FIBA EuroBaskets won. Three Olympic medals, including two silver and one bronze, highlighting an all-time record of six Olympic appearances.
He has played at every Olympics since 2004.
Fernandez announced before the games this was his last competition, so now that Spain's run through the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 has come to an end, this might be the last time we see Fernandez on the court.
"I've been blessed, blessed to coach him," said Sergio Scariolo, who has been Spain's national team coach since 2015. "So many games, so many competitions. Seeing him never giving up. Never surrendering to the physical gaps he had at the three position against basically any opponent he had to face during his career. Being so competitive, being so committed to this team. No matter how his health was, no matter how his personal situation was. He was always there.
"That was a great example for his teammates here in this team, for the ones who are coming after him and for sure for players all over the world. Because not everybody can have that jumping ability or the skills or the talent or the size. But everybody should try to look at this example and see that there is room to compensate different liabilities or flaws with superior mental emotional effort."
An undeniable All-Timer
His name is etched over and over again among the Top 10 of several all-time lists in the Olympics. Playing in his sixth Games meant he was able to move up even higher in several categories.
Spain and Fernandez gave it their all in Lille but did not make it out of the Group Phase, adding just three more games to Fernandez's total to end up at 4th.
MOST GAMES PLAYED ALL-TIME AT THE OLYMPICS
Rudy played a big role in getting Spain a win against Greece in their first game in Lille, putting him at 5th all-time for now.
MOST GAMES WON ALL-TIME AT THE OLYMPICS
*Active players
Fernandez made three three-pointers against Greece, keeping him in the Top 10 of the all-time list.
MOST THREE-POINTERS MADE ALL-TIME AT THE OLYMPICS
*Active players The three-point shot was introduced in 1988.
Another reason why Fernandez has been able to represent Spain time and again is because of his defense. He added two more steals in Paris to sit at joint-second place.
MOST STEALS ALL-TIME AT THE OLYMPICS
*Active players The steal was introduced as a statistic for the Olympics in 1976.
Throughout his Olympic Games career, Rudy also amassed 330 points, 64 made free-throws, 109 rebounds, 63 assists, and 7 blocks.
Fernandez's legacy will also include his leadership - both on and off the court, and both being vocal or leading by example.
"He welcomed me with open arms," said the naturalized point guard Lorenzo Brown, who joined the Spanish national team ahead of the FIBA EuroBasket 2022. "It felt impactful because it was a vet guy doing it. And he's been here for such a long time and he's been through all the ups and downs. And he knows what the meaning of La Familia is. Once he showed me the ropes and showed me around and introduced me to everyone, it was like I became that family member, that long lost family member that everybody was missing. He’s been a very big help to me and very impactful."
Brown said he can see the respect Fernandez receives from how his teammates respond to him.
"The respect factor for Rudy is through the roof. Whenever he speaks it's all ears. He's been here for so long. And he's seen guys like Pau (Gasol) and Marc (Gasol) and those guys who have won medals. He's won medals himself. I feel like the younger guys want to be in the position that he has been in. Just seeing how his tribute was for the last game, very special. That’s how you go out as a basketball player," Brown added.
Before the curtains come down on his career, here are Fernandez's top five Olympic moments.
Fernandez's Top 5 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.
Crowded trophy case
All in all, Rudy Fernandez's hardware collection is up there among one of the most impressive anyone has compiled.
So for one last time, take a bow Rudy. And thanks for the memories.
FIBA