Rudy Fernandez

Rodolfo "Rudy" Fernández Farrés (born 4 April 1985) is a Spanish professional basketball player for Real Madrid of the Liga ACB.

He is a 6 ft tall swingman.

He also won numerous personal awards while playing with DKV Joventut, such as the 2004 Spanish King's Cup MVP, the 2006 FIBA EuroChallenge Final Four MVP, the EuroLeague 2006–07 season's Rising Star award, the 2008 Spanish King's Cup MVP, the 2008 EuroCup Finals MVP, and the 2007 Catalan Tournament Final MVP.

Rudy Fernández won the 2005 and 2007 Catalan Tournaments, the 2006 FIBA EuroChallenge championship, the 2008 Spanish King's Cup title, and the 2008 EuroCup championship, while playing with DKV Joventut of the Spanish ACB League.

He has won two FIBA World Cup titles, in 2006 and 2019, two Olympic silver medals in 2008 and 2012, as well as a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

He was also named the 2006 FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year.

In July 2007, his contract with Joventut was extended through the year 2011, however his contract was bought out early in the year 2008 so that he could join the NBA.

On his exit out of the club he paid tribute to his DKV coach, Aíto García Reneses, "All I know of basketball is thanks to Aíto García Reneses", he said.

On 28 June 2007 Fernández was taken 24th overall in the NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns, who subsequently traded his draft rights along with James Jones to the Portland Trail Blazers for cash.

Rudy Fernández announced at a press conference on Friday 6 June 2008 that he would leave DKV Joventut to join the Portland Trail Blazers for the 2008–09 NBA season, and he signed a contract with the Blazers on 1 July.

"They [Portland] have shown a lot of interest in getting me and have assured me that I will be an important part in the team", he said.

Fernández joined the NBA team on 22 September 2008.

He became the eighth Spaniard to play in the NBA.

For the 2008–09 NBA season he joined several other fellow Spaniards in the league that included Pau and Marc Gasol, Jose Calderón, and Trail Blazers teammate Sergio Rodríguez.

He entered the NBA following his participation with the Spain national team at the 2008 Olympic basketball tournament in Beijing, China.

Fernández played in his first regular-season NBA game on 28 October 2008, coming off the bench to score 16 points in a 96–76 Portland loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

On 12 November 2008 Rudy scored 25 points in 29 minutes against the Miami Heat, including 8 of 8 from the free throw line adding to his already 92% FT shooting to set a new NBA career high.

He also won four EuroBasket titles in 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2022, a silver medal in 2007, and a bronze medal in 2013.

Fernández earned an All-EuroBasket Team selection in 2009.

On 18 January 2009 it was announced that Fernández had won the fan voting and was picked the fourth dunker to go to the NBA Slam Dunk Contest as part of the 2009 All-Star Weekend.

During the contest, he paid tribute to the late Trail Blazer Fernando Martín by wearing his #10 jersey.

Fernández was eliminated in the first round of the competition, after what some thought was biased judging.

On 9 March 2009, against the Los Angeles Lakers, Fernández was taken off the court in a stretcher after Trevor Ariza hit him on the head on a fastbreak attempt.

Fernández was alert and conscious when leaving the court with full movement of his extremities, however, he was taken to the hospital due to chest pain.

He was released from the hospital the next day with a bruised chest and a right hip pointer.

Fernández was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team on 30 April 2009.

He set NBA rookie records for number of three-point field goals made (159), hitting a three-point field goal in 33 consecutive games, and making a three-pointer in his first 20 career NBA games.

On 16 October 2009 Blazers announced that they had exercised the third year of their option on Fernández's contract, keeping him with the team through the 2010–11 season.

In December 2009, Fernández underwent microdiscectomy surgery for a herniated disc that was causing leg pain.

On 20 August 2010 Fernández was fined $25,000 for "public statements detrimental to the NBA," a day after his agent publicly demanded a trade from the Blazers.

On 17 December 2010 he hit 9-of-15 shots and four 3-pointers for a career-high 26 points with six assists in a 107–102 win against Minnesota.

Fernandez along with teammate Patty Mills donated 50% of the proceeds from their jerseys sales, throughout the month of January, to help those affected by the floods in Australia.

Fernández had a season-high eight assists on January 22 to go with 11 points, six rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes off the bench as a PG in the 97–92 win against Indiana.

Disappointed Fernández and his team, for the third consecutive time, exited the first round of the playoffs, this time against the Dallas Mavericks.

Fernández struggled offensively for a good part of the year, but his improved play in other areas of the game has earned him praise from his peers.

Blazers head coach Nate McMillan, who isn't known to hand out compliments easily, singled out his defensive play in the second half of Game 4 against the Mavericks as the key to the 84–82 win.

On 21 September 2011 Fernández signed a one-year contract with the Liga ACB team Real Madrid, valid only while a new NBA collective bargaining agreement remained under negotiation.

He is a three-time All-EuroLeague Team selection and won the EuroLeague title in 2015, 2018 and 2023.

During his stint in the National Basketball Association (NBA), he was an NBA All-Rookie Second Team member.

Fernández represents the senior Spain national team internationally.