The three-time EuroLeague champion indicates he has a "few months" left with the club.
Real Madrid legend Rudy Fernandez says that this season is his last
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Real Madrid swingman Rudy Fernandez, a 14-season Turkish Airlines EuroLeague veteran whose love of the game and infectious play has helped define a generation, said on Thursday that his storied basketball career is coming to a close.
In a press conference on his 39th birthday, Fernandez left it clear that after first coming to the basketball world's attention more than two decades ago, fans aren't going to see him in uniform again next season.
Retirement "is a difficult word and impactful when you hear it," Fernandez said. "But it's true that I'm now arriving at a moment in my career where I believe, well, I'm at a certain age and I've had many, many years as a pro. I have felt, and continue to feel, very loved here at Real Madrid. It's clear that this is coming to a close, but I still have a few months to try to help with whatever they ask and, above all, in my time left, to enjoy my teammates."
Fernandez has lifted the EuroLeague trophy on three occasions, in 2015, 2018 and 2023. The Spanish legend is looking – along with his teammates Sergio Llull and Sergio Rodriguez – to join Kyle Hines and Saras Jasikevicius as the only players in the modern EuroLeague era to have become a EuroLeague champion four times.
"Unfortunately, sport comes with injuries and I remember when I had my third back operation, they told me I could play three or at most four years at the professional level," Fernandez continued. "But with the work of the physical therapists of Real Madrid, I've been able to play many more years and enjoy many more successes together with my teammates. And the truth is I feel very privileged to be able to reach this point."
A EuroLeague legend
To date, Fernandez has played 344 games in the EuroLeague, of which 325 have come with Real (2011-present) and 19 were as a Joventut Badalona player (2006-07). His career averages stand at 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals. His 344 EuroLeague appearances are the 12th most all-time, while he is 18th all-time in scoring (3,028 points), fourth all-time in three-point makes (591), 32nd all-time in rebounds (972), 22nd all-time in assists (827), and third all-time in steals (364).
Rudy was selected as the EuroLeague Rising Star in his first year in the competition, which came with Joventut, and was later selected to the All-EuroLeague First Team in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, as well as the All-EuroLeague Second Team in the 2014-15 campaign.
In addition to his EuroLeague exploits, Fernandez also became a BKT EuroCup champion with Joventut in 2007-08, earning Finals MVP honors in the process. He made a total of 42 appearances in the competition over four seasons (2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2007-08), with career averages of 11.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.9 steals.
One of Spain’s best-ever players
Outside of the Euroleague Basketball umbrella, the Real legend is also recognized around the world for his achievements with the Spanish national team. Fernandez won two FIBA World Cup titles with La Roja, four EuroBasket trophies, two silver medals and one bronze medal at the Olympics Games.
Domestically, he has lifted six Spanish League trophies with Real, six Spanish Cups – one with Joventut (2007-08) and five with Real – and nine Spanish Super Cups, all with Real. He also became a FIBA EuroChallenge champion with Joventut in 2005-06, while he helped Real lift the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in 2014-15.
Fernandez spent four seasons in the NBA, too, playing 267 games in the association. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2008-09 after an impressive rookie campaign with the Portland Trail Blazers, in which he averaged 10.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 78 regular-season games and 7.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.3 steals in six playoff games. Rudy suited up 236 times for Portland across the 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons – on 218 occasions in the regular season and 18 in the playoffs – before playing 31 games for the Denver Nuggets in the 2011-12 campaign.