ESP - Fernandez back-op goes well

DENVER (NBA/Olympics) - Spain guard Rudy Fernandez has had a successful back operation and is now focusing on his recovery in order to be ready to play at a third straight Olympics.

According to the Spanish Basketball Federation, the 26-year-old shooting guard will be out "8 to 10 weeks, so his presence with the Spanish team at the Olympic Games in London this summer is still quite feasible if there are no setbacks."

Fernandez missed 12 games with a lower back strain and according to the Nuggets, "the injury flared up against Dallas on March 19, prompting further evaluation."

Marta Fernandez, Rudy's sister who plays for Spanish giants Perfumerias Avenida, said on Twitter: "Everything went perfect! Very happy! In no time, we'll have @rudy5fernandez making mischief!"

The guard has been a lynchpin in the Spain team for several years.

After being named the Copa del Rey MVP while a teenager at DKV Joventut in the Spanish League, he made his Olympic bow in 2004 in Athens.

In 2006, Fernandez came off the bench and played a vital role for the Pepu Hernandez-coached Spain team that won the world title in Japan.

Two years later and Fernandez helped his national side reach the Olympic Final in Beijing, where he had one of the most memorable plays of the tournament when dunking over USA center Dwight Howard.

Fernandez then launched his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers.

At the following two EuroBaskets, he won gold medals with Spain.

At the European Championship in Poland in 2009, when Spain won their first title in the competition, Fernandez was named to the All-Tournament team.

After helping Spain defend their EuroBasket title in Lithuania last summer, he played for Real Madrid during the NBA Lockout and following the end of the labor dispute in America, the Trail Blazers traded him to Dallas.

The Mavericks then traded Fernandez to Denver, and he played an average of almost 23 minutes per contest.

FIBA