TBILISI (Georgia) - There's his own family and then there's La Familia with which he has spent so many summers. Rudy Fernandez is helping Spain rebuild and is hitting milestones along the way.

Two FIBA Basketball World Cup titles and three triumphs in FIBA EuroBasket only start off the list of numerous achievements Rudy Fernandez has accumulated over the years. To put it simply, Fernandez and his generation of Spanish players are as successful as few have ever been in the history of European hoops.

Just recently Fernandez reached the 2,000 point milestone for Spain. Moreover, on Saturday he surpassed the legendary Juan Antonio San Epifanio as Spain's second most capped player with 240 games for La Roja. 

What keeps him going?

"Wearing this jersey. For me every summer is motivation to prepare for any tournament we play in with the national team," Fernandez replies.

Fernandez might not be the same player on a game to game basis that he used to be in his prime. Heck, nobody is at the age of 37. However, there's a smooth gracefulness with which Rudy has adapted a new role over the years.

"When I jump, I'm not the same guy I was in the past. So I try to do my best and prepare my body for a long season. The regular season has a lot of games. After that I play in the summer with the national team. It's a lot of games for my body," says Fernandez.

"I LOVE TO STAY WITH MY FAMILY. BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY WITH THESE GUYS - MY OTHER FAMILY. THEY ARE MY KIDS NOW."- Rudy Fernandez

The head coach of the national team Sergio Scariolo also tipped his hat to the veteran.

"To be second ever in the history of a big national team like Spain is probably giving him the final ticket to be considered a legend. But he's still there - competing, producing and leading. He's still a player!" said Scariolo.

"If it's possible, it even surprises me at this point. He understood that he is the only old buccaneer left from the pirate ship. He's really committed into trying to bring the heritage to the new guys."

Staying at the top level for such a long time has only been possible thanks to hard work and good habits. A healthy diet, specific stretching exercises, cold baths, even the use of hypnosis. You name it, Fernandez has done it to prolong his career.

"I'm old so I have to take care of my body," says Fernandez almost too modestly, when listing the factors that help him play at the highest level.

Fernandez has always been a collector of championship game nets

It goes without saying that the boxscore doesn't paint the full picture when it comes to his significance on this team. On the court he's frequently talking and giving teammates pointers. Off the court you'll see him do little things like suggesting Juancho Hernangomez the right pose to strike in a photoshoot.

Or as Usman Garuba laughs about it - Fernandez is the only veteran on the team. That's particularly crucial after Spain lost his long-time running mate Sergio Llull to injury shortly before EuroBasket started.

With Juan Carlos Navarro as the record holder at 253 games, one has to wonder whether Fernandez will continue competing for Spain after the EuroBasket. The guard hasn't ruled out the possibility of playing next summer or even the 2024 Olympics, but doesn't give out any strict commitments either.

It's quite understandable when you take into consideration that Fernandez is a family man with a daughter and a son. There's a story about why his son actually picked up football first.

"In the beginning my son didn't like basketball because I travel a lot. It meant that when daddy goes to play basketball, he leaves. But now he likes it. I'm happy about that," says Fernandez, who keeps in touch his family over the phone these days.

"It's tough because I love my family. I love to stay with them. But it's an opportunity to play with these guys - my other family. They are my kids now," says Fernandez as La Familia learns from the success of its oldest member.

FIBA