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You were twenty when you arrived in the NBA. Looking back on your American adventure, what are the moments that first come to mind? Sergio Rodriguez: Coming to the United States was the fulfillment of a dream, after two years at Estudiantes. The first big moment was the Draft, the second was arriving in Portland, where I trained with an NBA team for the first time, immersed in everything that entails at that level and sharing the court with players I'd only seen on television until then. The third was the opportunity to compete in the best league in the world, facing idols I'd admired since childhood. Beyond basketball, I'll always carry with me the personal experiences of those years: getting my driver's license, learning to live on my own, growing up far from home.
Former long-time NBA front-office member Martynas Pocius, 39, is set to leave the league for a Deputy GM role in Real Madrid’s front office. The longtime Lithuanian national team and EuroLeague guard will work alongside Sergio Rodriguez, assisting in major personnel and basketball operations decisions.
Sergio Rodríguez has also had a distinguished career in the NBA, where he played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers.
And to see the talent that EuroCamp has now... and obviously, it was talented when you were there. What's it like to see the difference? Goran Dragic: I think it’s a huge difference, especially the style of basketball, it changed a lot. Back in the day, I was just talking to [Sergio] Rodriguez yesterday that usually we had 6-2, 6-3 point-guards, and now you cannot find them anymore. Everybody’s 6-6, 6-7, and they’re playing on the ball, off the ball. The game changed a lot, but I think basketball is in good hands.
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Who was the toughest person to play in the NBA? Sergio Rodriguez: I’ve been very lucky in my career to have great teammates around me. It would be very hard to say one or another. And the same with opponents. I have played against some of the best of the history in the NBA: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James… Many, many of the guys that dominated the game for many years. Also here in Europe, we have Kyle Hines, who I play against and with… Vassilis Spanoulis, Juan Carlos Navarro, teammates like Felipe Reyes, Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Lull. So I’ve been very lucky.
Is there a moment that sticks out that you think was your favorite or that you cherish the most? Sergio Rodriguez: Again, it’s tough to choose one, But probably, you know, being in the NBA, winning the three Euroleagues that I had won, playing for Real Madrid, playing for the National Team, Olympic Games of 2012, that we got the silver medal. So there are moments, winning the European Championship and the gold medal at the World Cup in 2006. So there are many moments. And when I see them and reflect on those moments, I feel very grateful.
Special guests include Derrick Rose, Sergio Rodriguez, Goran Dragić, and Guerschon Yabusele, who will share their experience with the next generation of global talent.
The All-25 EuroLeague Team is taking shape, with the third set of inductees being confirmed. Luka Doncic, Milos Teodosic, Dejan Bodiroga, Georgios Printezis and Walter Tavares join fellow honorees Dimitris Diamantidis, Mike James, Vasilije Micic, Anthony Parker, Sergio Rodriguez, Nando De Colo, Sergio Llull, Ramunas Siskauskas, Vassilis Spanoulis and Nikola Vujcic. The selection process combined the votes of EuroLeague head coaches who had won a championship, past All-Decade Team members and MVPs, media representatives and fans. The coaches and playing greats each made up 40% of the final vote, and the media and fans were 10% each.
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Jorge Sierra: Former Blazers guard Sergio Rodriguez announces his retirement. Look at the FIBA accolades on his Wikipedia page. My God... pic.twitter.com/C83Lc5qeJ9
According to El Mundo Deportivo, 35-year-old point guard will sign a 1+1 contract with Real Madrid, where he played for six years, from 2010 until 2016. The return of Sergio Rodríguez is the first move Real Madrid has made for next season. The player had a renewal offer from AX Armani Exchange Milan, but, after six years away from Spain (one with the Philadelphia 76ers, two with CSKA Moscow and three with Armani), he has prioritized returning to Madrid with his family.