ESP - Fernandez could become latest Spanish star to reach NBA

BADALONA (ACB) - Spain has exported several of its national team stars to the NBA in recent years and that trend could continue next season with DKV Joventut's Rudy Fernandez drawing rave reviews for his play in both the ACB and Euroleague.

Fernandez, a 6ft 5in shooting guard, averaged 20.57 points over the last seven ACB games to fire his club to a third-place finish in the regular season.

DKV won six of those contests, including victories against juggernauts Real Madrid and Tau Ceramica, and will now take on Gran Canaria in the first round of the play-offs.

Fernandez made himself an early entry candidate for the previous two drafts but withdrew his name each time.

An NBA scout based in Europe spoke to PA Sport about the 22-year-old Fernandez on the condition of anonymity.

"He (Fernandez) will be picked for sure, I think somewhere between 16th and 23rd in this year's draft.

"He can score a lay-up, or a three-point set shot, but doesn't have the middle game, the pull-up jumper. But he can improve on this for sure. He is certainly very good on the fastbreak."

Overall in the 2006-07 campaign, Fernandez has shot 56.3% (86 of 154) inside the arc in the ACB and 38% (74 of 193) beyond it.

In the Euroleague, perhaps a better gauge of a player's readiness for the NBA, he hit 54.9% (45 of 82) of his shots from two-point range, and 42.9% (51 of 119) from long range.

Defensively, the scout said Fernandez needs some work.

"He's very active, moves his feet well but he really never bends his knees - just moves his feet quickly and sometimes loses balance," the scout said.

"Defense can be a problem, but he can adjust and get better."

If, as expected, Fernandez is selected and decides to sign with a team, it will be reassuring for him that so many of his compatriots have found their feet in the NBA.

Raul Lopez was a terrific point guard in Utah before knee injuries brought a premature end to his career in the States and forced his return to Spain's ACB two years ago.

Memphis power forward Pau Gasol, the MVP of last year's FIBA World Championship where Spain won the gold medal, was an all-star in 2006.

Both second-year man Jose Manuel Calderon and rookie Jorge Garbajosa were solid contributors this season for Atlantic Division winners Toronto.

Even Fernandez's close friend Sergio Rodriguez, a 20-year-old who just finished his rookie campaign with Portland, had some fine moments. A late-season ankle injury sidelined him, though, and he struggled to rediscover his form after returning to action.

"Every player would like to play there," Fernandez admitted. "Right now, though, I don't think about it.

"It's something that if it emerges, I would have to plan it, decide with my family whether I would like to make that move and decide more importantly, if I'm ready to go there or not."

There is a very good chance he will remain at DKV for another season because he has a buyout clause of 1.2million euros to pay DKV before going to the NBA.

The buyout clause is 2.4 million euros if he is to join another team in Europe.

Therefore, as he is unlikely to be chosen in the top 12, his projected earnings according to the rookie salary scale would not be enough for him to leave Spain.

Fernandez's star has been on the rise since 2004 when he was voted MVP of the Copa del Rey after leading DKV into the final.

He played on the Olympic team in Athens and after a slight dip in form at EuroBasket 2005 in Belgrade, Fernandez struck back with a vengeance by leading DKV Joventut to triumph in the EuroCup.

He was voted MVP of that Final Four.

Last summer, Fernandez came off the bench to provide a real spark for Spain's star-laden FIBA World title winning team in Japan.

He averaged 9.1 points and shot 61.5% (16 of 26) inside the arc, and 40.7% (11 of 27) beyond it.

The honors have been coming in for Fernandez.

Fernandez was the FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year for 2006 and in the Euroleague, he received the Rising Star Trophy.

He was also named in the ACB's 'ideal five' team of the year along with Luis Scola, Pablo Prigioni, Juan Carlos Navarro and Felipe Reyes.

This summer, he will play at EuroBasket 2007 in Spain.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA