Real Madrid officially signs Rudy Fernandez

A former Rising Star Award winner and a reigning European champion is set to return to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague with the news that Real Madrid has signed Rudy Fernandez (1.97 meters, 26 years old). The popular swingman has spent the past three seasons in the NBA playing for Portland. He averaged 8.6 points and 2.5 assists in 78 NBA games last season and 9.1 points and 2.2 assists over 218 games in his three seasons there. In June his NBA rights were traded to Dallas, though he has never played for that franchise. Fernandez started his career with Joventut Badalona, whom he led to a glorious period in the mid-2000s. He was chosen as the 2007-08 Euroleague Rising Star after averaging 15.8 points in 19 games. Fernandez also led Joventut to the 2006 FIBA Europe Cup and the 2008 ULEB Cup titles. He was chosen as the 2008 ULEB Cup final eight MVP. He averaged 16 points in the final three games to lead Joventut to the trophy. Fernandez also won the 2008 Spanish King's Cup, during which he collected MVP honors. He is a regular member of the Spanish national team. Fernandez led Spain to victories at the 2006 FIBA World Championships, EuroBasket 2009, when he was chosen to the All-Tournament team, and most recently at EuroBasket 2011. He also has silver medals from the 2008 Olympics and EuroBasket 2007.


Fernandez will return to Dallas Mavericks at the end of the NBA lockout and Real Madrid holds his rights if he decides in the future to play in Europe.