Canarian point guard Sergio Rodríguez, world champion in 2006 and European champion in 2015, former NBA player, indicated at his farewell to professional basketball held at the Real Madrid Sports City, his last club, that he would like to “be remembered as someone who had fun playing basketball.
“I have given everything I had and I have enjoyed the sport I do like I could never imagine, I hope to be remembered as someone who had fun playing basketball and gave everything to win,” he said as a culmination of an event in which they were present. all his trophies and that opened with a video with his best plays.
Rodríguez was supported not only by his family, but also by players with whom he has shared a locker room, such as Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernández, Felipe Reyes, Carlos Alocén, Alberto Abalde, Hugo González, Sebas Saiz, and Usman Garuba; by his coaches at the white club, Pablo Laso and Chus Mateo; by the Spanish national team coach, Sergio Scariolo; by the president of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), Elisa Aguilar; and by legends such as Fernando Romay, Juan Antonio Corbalán, and Emiliano Rodríguez, among others.
Sergio Rodríguez, at his farewell with the president of Real Madrid Florentino Pérez
Pedro Castillo / EFE
Florentino Pérez, president of the entity, who awarded him the club’s gold and diamond insignia, extolled the virtues as a ‘Chacho’ player and his record of achievements, but also the importance of the legacy he leaves.
Rodríguez recognized the work of the president, whose presence, he said, “has been vital to be clear about the objectives, which cannot be other than winning and doing so with the values that represent Real Madrid.”
The player reviewed his career and of Estudiantes he commented: “The years at Magariños served to consolidate me personally and sportingly. Jose Asensio and Pepu Hernández had a lot of blame for this. Thank you for giving me that opportunity and for taking care of me so that this leap was a new one. orderly progress in my career. Thanks also to colleagues from that time like Carlos Jiménez, whom I already admired and from whom I learned so many things.”
Regarding his experience in the NBA, he noted: “I had grown up idolizing Larry Bird, Michael Jordan or Jason Williams and suddenly I was there. Now I look back and feel very lucky to have played on four teams, each of them them unique and in different and unique moments that have allowed me to fulfill the dream of playing with and against the best.
“In the first period everything was new and special. Each pavilion, each rival, each match… it felt like living a dream. And in the second I was lucky enough to live it as an adult and from another perspective,” declared the who was a player for Portland, Sacramento and New York.
Also on his resume are experiences at CSKA Moscow and Olimpia Milan. “historical” clubs.
Rodríguez said that he has been “part of a historic generation” of Spanish basketball
“I have enjoyed every summer since I was thirteen years old, first in the youth teams and then later representing my country in the big events. I have been truly privileged to have been able to experience so many successes.”
Regarding Real Madrid, he indicated: “It is the club that has marked me the most, as an athlete and person, the place with which I feel most identified. When you sign for the club you know that you acquire a great responsibility not only with your coaches, your teammates and the club staff; but with millions of fans who constantly follow us around the world and with their history.
“I have been able to experience two incredible periods in this club, winning 17 titles, including two Euroleagues. I am very fortunate to have had great people at my side who have helped me achieve my goals. Madrid and Real Madrid are my home, three of my children were born here, I have grown and matured in this club that has allowed me to reach the highest level,” he added.
From his time with the white team he highlighted names such as Florentino Pérez, Juan Carlos Sánchez and Alberto Herreros; the coaches Pablo Laso and Chus Mateo “for letting me be myself”; or those of his teammates Felipe Reyes, Rudy Fernández and Sergio Llull: “Competing alongside you gives me the security to face the maximum demands of this club, in addition to having a great time off the field with so many unique moments that will remain for us.”
Rodríguez said of the fans that, without them and without their strength, “nothing would have been the same.”
“I am very excited about the new stage that opens today, I will put all my effort as always to enjoy every day and continue learning. Basketball has occupied my activity until now and I will continue to be linked in one way or another to this sport,” he claimed.
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2024-06-27 00:22:28
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