He was also named the 2006 FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year.[1] 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.[2]
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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8][9] During the contest, he paid tribute to the late Trail Blazer Fernando Martín by wearing his #10 jersey.[10] Fernández was eliminated in the first round of the competition, after what some thought was biased judging.[11][12]
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.[13] He was released from the hospital the next day with a bruised chest and a right hip pointer.[14]
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.[15]
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.[16]
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.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20] Fernández had a season-high eight assists on 22 January 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.[21][22] 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.[23]
Real Madrid (2011)
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.[24] Fernández signed for a reported salary of 2.7 million eurosnet income per season, the largest contract in Spanish league history, at that time. His deal also gave him the option to return to Real when his NBA contract ended.[25]
Denver Nuggets (2011–2012)
During the 2011 NBA Draft Rudy Fernández was traded to the Mavericks in a three-team trade.[26] However, he never played for the Mavericks, as he was traded with Corey Brewer to the Denver Nuggets on 13 December 2011. The Mavericks received a second-round draft pick and a traded player exception.[27]
He played 31 games for Denver before suffering a season-ending back injury. In July 2012, Fernández announced he would not return to the NBA, opting for a 3-year deal with Real Madrid Baloncesto.[28]
Return to Real Madrid (2012–2024)
On 4 July 2012 Fernández returned to Real Madrid by signing a three-year deal[29] worth 9 million euros net income.[30] In May 2014, alongside his teammate Sergio Rodríguez, he was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team of the EuroLeague, the second consecutive in his career.[31]
On 14 August 2014 he signed a three-year extension with Real Madrid, to stay in the club until 2018.[32] In May 2015, he was chosen to the All-EuroLeague Second Team for his performance during the season.[33] Real Madrid won the EuroLeague 2014–15 season championship, after defeating Olympiacos, by a score of 78–59 in the final game.[34] Real Madrid finished the season winning the Spanish League 2014–15 season championship, after a 3–0 series sweep in the ACB finals against Barcelona. With that trophy, they finished the season having won the triple crown.[35]
In May 2018, Real Madrid won the 2017–18 EuroLeague championship, after defeating Fenerbahçe Doğuş in the final game with 85–80.[36] Over 30 EuroLeague games, Fernández averaged 7.5 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game. One month later, the club won the Spanish league after a 3–1 series win against Baskonia. Fernández was named MVP of the finals.
On 2 July 2018 he signed a two-year extension with Real Madrid, to stay in the club until 2020.[37]
On 16 August 2024, Fernández retired from basketball.[38]
As a member of the senior Spain national team, Fernández competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics, averaging 5.1 points per game, in 10.6 minutes per game. The next year, he played at the EuroBasket 2005, but his statistics were worse: 2.7 points per game, in 16.3 minutes, with a 31.6% FG%[39] His third appearance with Spain's senior national team was at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, where he became an important player for the Spanish team, and contributed with 9.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, to help his team win a gold medal.
He also played at the EuroBasket 2007, where Spain won the tournament's silver medal. During this tournament, Rudy averaged 9.9 points in 20.3 minutes per game. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Spain lost to Team USA in the gold medal match. Fernández scored 22 points in 18 minutes of play, with 5 three-point goals, and completed a dunk over Dwight Howard[40] that ESPN sportswriter Bill Simmons described as "hellacious".[41] During the Olympics, Fernández had the following stats: 13.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, in 22.3 minutes per game.
The EuroBasket 2009 in Poland was his sixth consecutive appearance with the Spain national team. Spain won its inaugural gold medal in a European Championship, and Fernández averaged 13.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, in 28.4 minutes, and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Fernández married Helen Lindes, his girlfriend of three years, on 4 July 2015. They live in Pozuelo de Alarcón, on the outskirts of Madrid. His older sister, Marta Fernández, played in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2007.
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