Broadcasters and reporters in the media rarely allow themselves to call the player by his first name only.
This only happens in unique cases of sports icons such as Kobe, Giannis, LeBron and Shaquille, and also in the case of Rudy Fernandez - because there is only one Rudy.
At the age of 37, when he is the last remnant of the golden generation of Spanish basketball, the Real Madrid forward proved once again how great he is when he led the team to the Eurobasket semi-finals.
Everyone believed that this year's tournament would break the tradition of ten consecutive championships, in which the Spaniards reached at least the semi-finals.
The gradual retirement of the stars that led it to great achievements plus a wave of severe injuries lowered expectations from Sergio Scariolio's team.
It is possible that even the Spaniards themselves did not believe that they would reach the semi-finals before the championship.
Rudy Fernandez.
An unforgettable tournament at an extreme age, photo: Reuters
Rudy Fernandes represents exactly what his team needed in this championship.
The Spanish tradition and the big heart manage to forget the quality gaps.
A player who was in all the major classes and won countless titles is doing the most important thing for his team in this period - leading the exchange of generations.
This is how a much less talented and shiny team finds itself touching the medal, and who knows - maybe reaching the title.
Without Sergio Yui, his Real Madrid teammate who was injured before the championship and missed it, and without Juan Carlos Navarro, Felipe Reyes and the Gasol brothers who retired, the forward is the only remnant of the great days.
He could have easily given up - after all, he is 37 years old and suffers from many injuries, but not Rudy.
Yui.
Missed the championship due to injury, photo: EPA
In this championship, Fernandez passed Juan Antonio San Epifanio and rose to second place in the all-time list of appearances for the Spanish national team.
He has 246 national games, and is second only to Navarro with 253. In this championship, he will not be able to pass "La Bomba", but don't worry - next summer Spain will play in the World Championship, and trust Rudy that if he is healthy, he will get there and break the record.
Coach Sergio Scariolo is also confident: "He is delivering his best championship ever. Why would he retire? I would be surprised if he did. He plays like an 18-year-old. He is an example for everyone. He is playing a role here that he has never played before, he is simply spreading his experience everywhere."
Rudy.
"Spreads experience everywhere", photo: FIBA
Rudy started his career at Hovantod in Dalona under the legendary Aito Renesas, and already there he took the first European title for the teams with a Eurocup win.
He then played three seasons in Portland in the NBA, and since then he has been in Real Madrid, who are not afraid to extend his contract every time, despite his age and despite the injuries he suffers from.
The upcoming season is going to be his 12th at the club, he won twice in the Euroleague, and 7 championships in Spain.
He has been with the national team for almost two decades, and holds an amazing balance of titles of 2 wins in the World Championship, 3 wins in the European Championships and also 3 Olympic medals.
In the current tournament he also received the captain's armband and feels great with all the young players: "We are a family. They are my children now," he said.
"His mouth hurts, he's injured there, but he gets on the floor and isn't afraid of anything," says coach Scariolo.
Rudy understands that his status has changed, and he has no problem coming off the bench and playing only 15 minutes.
And even more importantly - he brings his vast experience and is there in the big time to win games.
Against Finland - his steal, assist and two 3-pointers won the game and advanced Spain to the semi-finals against Germany.
Year 18 of clutch Rudy Fernandez threes #EuroBasket x #BringTheNoise
📺 https://t.co/XA74VljBO4 pic.twitter.com/fz1x7JbbDg
— #EuroBasket 2022 (@EuroBasket) September 13, 2022
He does all this at his advanced age, after a grueling season of 70 games at Real Madrid.
And in two words: a natural phenomenon.
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