No doubt that Jordi Fernandez had a mixed feeling on Friday. On the one hand, the Canadian coach recorded a third victory in three matches in Group B, the “group of death”, confirming the high level and potential of Canada in these 2024 Olympic Games.
On the other hand, this latest success has led to the elimination of Spain, his native country since the new coach of the Nets was born in Badalona. This first-round exit of the Roja confirms the recent difficulties of the Iberian nation, which has lost members of its golden generation over the years and must deal with a squad that is now less talented.
“We've seen it over the years, from the successes of this program, it's a team that fights until the end, that will try everything, a zone defense, a box, pressure etc. I think they did an incredible job.”, declared the Canadian coach after the match.
Not an end, but a “continuation”
Yes, La Roja won Eurobasket in 2022, but since the Tokyo Games, the record has been negative: 6th in Japan, then 9th at the 2023 World Cup and finally these failed Paris Games. The sublime years between 2006 and 2012, when medals rained down in almost all international competitions, are starting to seem far away.
But Jordi Fernandez wants to be reassuring. “We see players like Santi Aldama and the youngsters, those I coached at 18-19 years old, who are not yet at the top,” he recalls. “This program is going to do what it does best: be competitive, play well, be organized, be well coached. There's no Marc and Pau Gasol, no Juan Carlos Navarro, Rudy Fernandez, Ricky Rubio, Jose Calderon. But there are other players.”
The Nets coach can therefore assure that this early elimination “is not the end of anything but a continuation”. On the other hand, it is indeed the end of the adventure for Rudy Fernandez, whose immense career ended on Friday.
“I've known him since he was 17 or 18. I have a lot of respect for him. It was an honor to know him, to witness his career. I don't know if another player will be able to play in the Olympics six times or more. Because of him, I loved basketball for a long, long time.”concludes Jordi Fernandez.
