Spain - New addition Fernandez is fluent in Blazer Mania

From columbian.com
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Rudy Fernandez acknowledges that he has not fully grasped the English language just yet.

He already knows how to speak Blazer Mania, though.

“When I was 10, 11 years old, I had a poster of (Clyde) Drexler,” Fernandez said Tuesday in a conference call with members of the media. “I like him.”

Portland fans hope Fernandez, along with Brandon Roy and Greg Oden, can lead the Blazers back among the NBA’s elite, much like Drexler, Terry Porter and Buck Williams did in the early 1990s.

The Trail Blazers announced Tuesday they had reached an agreement to sign Fernandez, a 23-year-old guard from Spain whom the Blazers acquired during a 2007 draft-day trade.

Fernandez turned down offers of more money and more years from clubs in Europe in order to play in Portland.

“My dream is to play in the NBA. I think (with) Portland, I have an opportunity now. As a young guy, it’s my opportunity to learn and play with the best players in the world,” he said.

Fernandez added that Blazers coach Nate McMillan has told him to be prepared for an unusual experience.

“Nate ... said the first year is the difficult year. It’s a new season, a new language, a new city,” Fernandez said. “But when I speak with Nate, ... He’s excited I’m coming to Portland.”

Fernandez has never been to Portland — “It rains a lot, but that’s no problem for me,” he said — and will not arrive in the region until after the Olympics.

A regular on the Spanish national team, Fernandez helped his country win the gold medal in the 2006 FIBA World Championships. Spain finished seventh in the 2004 Olympic Games.

He conducted most of his teleconference in English, and he sounds closer to being fluent than he gives himself credit for. Still, he wants to improve on his skills.

“I think the most important thing for me is to learn the language. I want communication for the team. I want to understand everything, the coach and everything,” he said.

The Blazers hope fellow Spaniard and current Trail Blazer Sergio Rodriguez will help with the transition.

“We’ve been able to help Sergio with off-the-court stuff,” said Kevin Pritchard, the Trail Blazers’ general manager. “Now that Sergio is here, we expect him to help Rudy with every possible aspect of his life, whether it’s going for groceries ... or looking for Spanish food.”

The change of cultures will be a challenge, but Fernandez said he is not nervous about playing in the NBA, adding that whether he was to play in Portland or Turkey, the game remains the same.

“I play the best sport in the world,” he said.

While expectations are high, Pritchard said there will be a learning process.

“We know Rudy has got to come over here and learn the NBA game. It’s different. On the international court, he’s had huge success,” Pritchard said. “How fast he learns will depend on a lot of different factors. One of the things that will help us, and help Rudy, he can learn from some of the best players in our league.”

Pritchard noted Brandon Roy is the type of team leader who will guide Fernandez.

Character also counts for the Blazers, Pritchard said

“He’s exactly the fabric of what we want going forward with our team,” the GM said. “He’s an unselfish kid. He’s talented. He wants to win.
“In meeting with him, getting to know him, we think it’s a perfect fit. Today is a great day for the organization.”

Fernandez is coming off his best season as a professional, averaging better than 21 points per game and 4.1 assists in his seventh season playing with DKV Joventut Badalona in the Spanish ACB League. He shot 41 percent from 3-point range.

In the future, perhaps young American players will have posters of Fernandez on their walls.

Michael Jordan’s name came up when Fernandez was asked about his favorite players. Right after Jordan came the Drexler comment. As far as current players, Fernandez enjoys watching Kobe Bryant, Manu Ginobili, and his soon-to-be teammate, Brandon Roy.

Yes, he already knows the Trail Blazers’ language.