Sergio Rodríguez Explained

Sergio Rodríguez
Height M:1.91
Weight Kg:84
Birth Date:12 June 1986
Birth Place:Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Spain
Draft Year:2006
Draft Round:1
Draft Pick:27
Draft Team:Phoenix Suns
Career Start:2003
Career End:2024
Career Position:Point guard
Career Number:13, 6, 11, 14
Years1:2003–2006
Years2:
Team2:Portland Trail Blazers
Team3:Sacramento Kings
Team4:New York Knicks
Years5:2010–2016
Team5:Real Madrid
Team6:Philadelphia 76ers
Years7:2017–2019
Team7:CSKA Moscow
Years8:2019–2022
Team8:Olimpia Milano
Years9:2022–2024
Team9:Real Madrid
Highlights:

Sergio Rodríguez Gómez (pronounced as /es/; born 12 June 1986) is a Spanish former professional basketball player who last played for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. Standing at, he plays at the point guard position. Rodriguez, nicknamed "El Chacho",[1] won the EuroLeague title in 2015, and was an All-EuroLeague First Team selection, as well as the EuroLeague MVP the year before.

Rodríguez is a regular member of the senior Spain national team, with whom he won a FIBA World Cup title in 2006, an Olympics silver medal in 2012, as well as a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He also won a EuroBasket title in 2015, a silver medal in 2007, and a bronze medal in 2013. He earned an All-EuroBasket Team selection in 2015.

Professional career

Estudiantes (2003–2006)

Prior to joining the Portland Trail Blazers, Rodríguez was chosen to play for the 2004 World Junior Select team to play against the best high school players at the Nike Hoop Summit, located in the United States. Before joining the NBA, Rodríguez also played professional basketball at the senior club level for Estudiantes of the Spanish League, in which he played a final against FC Barcelona in the 2003–04 season, and won the ACB Rising Star Award for the 2004–05 season.

Portland Trail Blazers (2006–2009)

Rodríguez was selected with the 27th pick in the first round, by the Phoenix Suns, in the 2006 NBA draft (and later that day traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for cash considerations). On July 20, 2006, it was announced that the Trail Blazers had negotiated a buyout with his Spanish League club Estudiantes, and signed him to an NBA rookie-scale contract.

Throughout his spell at Portland, he did not earn much playing time, primarily playing as back-up point-guard. He was sidelined by the likes of Jarrett Jack or Steve Blake, who were favoured by coach Nate McMillan.[2] [3] He developed great court chemistry with fellow Spaniard Rudy Fernández.[4]

Rodríguez did not get along with McMillan, who had had a profile of low-risk point guard in his playing career. In the view of Rodríguez, McMillan was more "unjust than just" towards him, although—conveying a mixed balance—he pointed out that McMillan still gave him some opportunities after the arrival of highly touted prospect Jerryd Bayless.[5] Retrospectively, McMillan shared the opinion that Rodríguez had entered the NBA "too young", allegedly undeveloped as player.

Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks (2009–2010)

On June 25, 2009, Rodríguez was traded, along with the 37th pick in the 2009 NBA draft, and cash considerations, to the Sacramento Kings for the 31st pick in the 2009 NBA draft.[6] In 39 games played for the Kings, he averaged 6 points and 3.1 assists per game.

On February 18, 2010, Rodríguez was traded to the New York Knicks, along with Tracy McGrady, in a 3-team trade deal.[7] He appeared in 27 games for the Knicks, averaging 7.4 points and 3.4 assists per game.

Real Madrid (2010–2016)

On July 5, 2010, after spending four seasons in the NBA, Rodríguez signed a 3-year contract with the Spanish team Real Madrid.[8] In July 2012, he signed a 2-year contract extension with Real Madrid, extending his contract through the 2014–15 season.[9]

On January 9, 2014, he signed an extension with Real Madrid, staying in the club until 2018.[10] In May 2014, alongside his teammate Rudy Fernández, he was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team of the EuroLeague.[11] Prior to the 2014 Final Four, he was named the EuroLeague MVP of the season, after averaging 14 points, 4.9 assists, and 2 rebounds per game, over 31 games played, despite not starting in any game.[12]

In the 2014–15 season, Real Madrid won the EuroLeague, after defeating Olympiacos, by a score of 78–59 in the 2015 finals game.[13] Real Madrid eventually finished the season by also winning the season's Spanish League championship, after a 3–0 series sweep in the Spanish League's final series against Barcelona. With that title win, Real Madrid won the triple crown.[14]

Philadelphia 76ers (2016–2017)

On 13 July 2016, Rodríguez signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.[15] He made his debut for the 76ers in their season opener on 26 October 2016, recording 12 points and nine assists in a 103–97 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.[16] On April 8, 2017, Rodriguez was ruled out for the final three games of the season due to knee soreness after playing 68 games and starting a career high 30 games for the franchise.

CSKA Moscow (2017–2019)

On July 17, 2017, Rodríguez signed with CSKA Moscow.[17] In May 2018, he was named the All-EuroLeague Second Team for the 2017–18 season.[18]

Olimpia Milano (2019–2022)

On July 12, 2019, Rodriguez signed a three-year deal with the Italian basketball team, Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano.[19] In his first game with Milano, Rodriguez recorded 21 points and 4 assists in a 75–53 win over the De' Longhi Treviso.[20] On July 2, 2022, Rodriguez amicably parted ways with the Italian club after three seasons, having also served as the team's captain.

Return to Real Madrid (2022–2024)

On 18 July 2022, Rodriguez returned to Real Madrid on a one-year deal.[21]

On 19 June 2024, Rodríguez announced his retirement from professional basketball.[22]

National team career

Thought to be one of the best European prospects of his age, Rodríguez was named the MVP of the 2004 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, which was held in Zaragoza, Spain, while playing with the Spain national junior team. He led the host Spanish team to the tournament's gold medal. In the eight games of that tournament, he averaged 19 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, 8.5 assists per game, and 2.1 steals per game.

In August 2006, Rodríguez won the gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, while playing with the senior men's Spain national team. He also won the silver medal with Spain's senior national team at the EuroBasket 2007. In 2012, he won a silver medal at the Summer Olympics in London. In 2016, he won a bronze medal at the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Rodríguez decided to skip the 2019 World Cup, citing a need to rest.[23] He was called up by Sergio Scariolo for the 2020 Summer Olympics,[24] celebrated in 2021.

Player profile

An adept to pick and roll plays and with a flair for passing,[25] Rodríguez has mastered the art of feeding athletic big-men and small-forwards with alley-oops.[26] Owing to his passing ability and flashy dribbling, he drew comparisons to Jason Williams.[27] Throughout his Euroleague career he has had a high assist per turnover ratio and he has also excelled as scorer, presenting high 3-point field-goal and free-throw percentages.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

|-| align="left" | | align="left" | Portland| 67 || 1 || 12.9 || .423 || .282 || .808 || 1.4 || 3.3 || .5 || .0 || 3.7|-| align="left" | | align="left" | Portland| 72 || 0 || 8.7 || .352 || .293 || .658 || .8 || 1.7 || .3 || .0 || 2.5|-| align="left" | | align="left" | Portland| 80 || 13 || 15.3 || .392 || .325 || .792 || 1.6 || 3.6 || .7 || .0 || 4.5|-| align="left" | | align="left" | Sacramento| 39 || 0 || 13.3 || .463 || .357 || .694 || 1.3 || 3.1 || .7 || .1 || 6.0|-| align="left" | | align="left" | New York| 27 || 8 || 19.7 || .491 || .347 || .806 || 1.4 || 3.4 || .8 || .1 || 7.4|-| align="left" | | align="left" | Philadelphia| 68 || 30 || 22.3 || .392 || .365 || .667 || 2.3 || 5.1 || .7 || .1 || 7.8|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 353 || 52 || 15.0 || .409 || .337 || .739 || 1.5 || 3.4 || .6 || .0 || 4.9

Playoffs

|-| align="left" | 2009| align="left" | Portland| 5 || 0 || 5.4 || .333 || .000 || .000 || .6 || 1.4 || .0 || .2 || .8|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 5 || 0 || 5.4 || .333 || .000 || .000 || .6 || 1.4 || .0 || .2 || .8

EuroLeague

Denotes season in which Rodríguez won the EuroLeague
Led the league

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05| style="text-align:left;"| Estudiantes| 14 || 5 || 17.4 || .419 || .318 || .636 || 1.9 || 2.8 || 1.2 || || 6.4 || 5.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="6"| Real Madrid| 18 || 10 || 18.8 || .413 || .200 || .938 || 1.9 || 3.1 || .5 || || 6.1 || 6.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2011–12| 16 || 5 || 20.1 || .494 || .469 || .821 || 1.5 || 5.4 || .8 || || 7.4 || 9.9|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13| 29 || 4 || 18.2 || .374 || .295 || .875 || 1.8 || 3.9 || .7 || || 7.5 || 7.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14| style="background:#CFECEC;"|31* || 0 || 22.5 || .498 || .500 || .906 || 2.0 || 4.9 || 1.2 || .1 || 14.0 || 15.9|-| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| 2014–15†| 28 || 2 || 21.6 || .438 || .381 || .836 || 1.4 || 5.1 || 1.0 || .0 || 11.1 || 12.1|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16| 27 || 10 || 23.9 || .446 || .409 || .741 || 2.2 || 6.2 || .7 || .1 || 10.9 || 14.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| CSKA Moscow| style="background:#CFECEC;"|36* || 22 || 26.0 || .491 || .438 || .897 || 2.0 || 4.9 || .8 || .1 || 13.8 || 13.8|-| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| 2018–19†| 35 || 10 || 21.9 || .421 || .392 || .878 || 1.5 || 4.5 || .7 || .1 || 10.2 || 9.1|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| Milano| style="background:#CFECEC;"|28* || 20 || 25.6 || .419 || .374 || .961 || 2.3 || 5.4 || .9 || .1 || 13.0 || 13.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| 37 || 3 || 19.9 || .446 || .354 || .906 || 2.0 || 4.5 || .8 || .1 || 9.7 || 10.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| 34 || 5 || 20.2 || .412 || .318 || .760 || 2.3 || 4.5 || .7 || .1 || 8.3 || 9.1|-| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| 2022–23†| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Real Madrid| 40 || 3 || 14.8 || .434 || .368 || .833 || 1.5 || 4.4 || .5 || || 4.9 || 6.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24| 32 || 0 || 15.2 || .356 || .356 || .875 || 1.4 || 4.3 || .5 || || 4.4 || 4.5|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 405 || 99 || 20.5 || .437 || .384 || .853 || 1.8 || 4.6 || .8 || .0 || 9.3 || 10.1

Domestic leagues

SeasonTeamLeague
2004–05 34 19.6 .547 .317 .780 1.6 2.9 1.1 .0 8.9
2005–06 34 23.5 .454 .306 .676 2.4 4.9 1.3 .1 9.2
2010–11 31 18.9 .418 .333 .854 1.4 2.7 .7 .1 7.0
2011–12 34 18.1 .413 .302 .766 1.9 3.8 .7 .1 5.8
2012–13 34 18.5 .478 .442 .889 1.9 4.0 1.1 .0 9.1
2013–14 34 22.9 .497 .377 .864 1.9 6.1 1.5 .1 12.7
2014–15 31 21.7 .404 .388 .825 2.0 5.3 1.1 .0 9.9
2015–16 31 24.5 .504 .405 .895 2.0 6.1 .8 .0 12.1

Awards and accomplishments

Professional career

Spanish junior national team

Spanish senior national team

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Meet the New Guys: Sergio Rodriguez Philadelphia 76ers . NBA.com . 16 January 2017 . 19 September 2016.
  2. Web site: Sergio Rodríguez regresa para vivir el sueño de la NBA . . Adry . Torres . 12 December 2016.
  3. Web site: McMillan: "Sergio Rodríguez vino demasiado joven a la NBA" . . 15 February 2014 . Alejandro . Delmás.
  4. Web site: Questions Facing The Portland Trail Blazers . . 19 June 2009 . Nick . Poust.
  5. Web site: Así recuerda Sergio Rodríguez a McMillan, Westphal y D'Antoni, sus tres entrenadores NBA recién despedidos . . 21 March 2012 . David . Sardinero.
  6. Web site: Trail Blazers trade Sergio Rodriguez, Jon Brockman to Kings for Jeff Pendergraph . . June 25, 2010 . September 3, 2011 .
  7. Web site: Knicks obtain McGrady in 3-team, 9-player trade . . February 18, 2010 . September 3, 2011 . dead . https://archive.today/20120711054052/http://m.si.com/news/to/to/detail/2364062 . July 11, 2012.
  8. Web site: Sergio Rodriguez joins Real Madrid . September 3, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100907060107/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1330008391822/noticia/Noticia/Sergio_Rodriguez_joins_Real_Madrid.htm . September 7, 2010.
  9. http://www.euroleague.net/euroleaguenews/transactions/2012-13-signings/i/98946/7224 Euroleague.net REAL MADRID, Rodriguez agree to extension through 2015.
  10. News: Sergio Rodriguez extends with Real Madrid till 2018 . 27 June 2015 . sportando.com . 9 January 2014.
  11. Web site: 2013-14 All-Euroleague First and Second Teams announced . Euroleague.net . 9 May 2014.
  12. Web site: Rodriguez voted bwin MVP of the 2013-14 Turkish Airlines Euroleague . Euroleague.net . 15 May 2014.
  13. News: Real Madrid is Euroleague champion for record ninth time! . 18 July 2015 . euroleague.net . 17 May 2015.
  14. News: Real Madrid make it 4 out of 4 . 24 June 2015 . marca.com . 24 June 2015 . es.
  15. Web site: Sixers Sign Guards Bayless and Rodriguez . NBA.com . 13 July 2016 . 13 July 2016.
  16. Web site: Thunder at 76ers . NBA.com . 26 October 2016 . 27 October 2016.
  17. Web site: Sergio Rodriguez: first Spanish player in CSKA history! . cskabasket.com . July 17, 2017 . July 17, 2017.
  18. News: 2017-18 All-EuroLeague Second Team presented by 7DAYS . 19 May 2018 . euroleague.net . 10 May 2018.
  19. Web site: Sergio Rodriguez signs three-year deal with Olimpia Milano . Eurohoops.net . July 12, 2019 . January 9, 2020.
  20. Web site: Treviso 53 - Milano 75 . Eurobasket . September 26, 2019 . January 9, 2020.
  21. Web site: Real brings back 'El Chacho'. EuroLeagueBasketball.net. 18 July 2022. 18 July 2022.
  22. Web site: Javier. Gancedo. Three-time EuroLeague champ Sergio Rodriguez retires. EuroLeagueBasketball.net. 19 June 2024. 1 July 2024.
  23. Web site: Sergio Rodríguez renuncia al Mundial: "He sentido la necesidad de parar" . . 9 July 2019.
  24. Web site: Sergio Scariolo confirma los 12 jugadores de la Selección española para los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio 2020 . . 24 July 2021 . Sergio . Rabinal.
  25. Web site: Sergio Rodriguez is mulling a return to the NBA . . Brett . Pollakoff . Jun 27, 2015.
  26. Web site: Signature Moves: Sergio Rodriguez . . 13 May 2020.
  27. Web site: Should Sergio Rodriguez And The Blazers Reunite? . Hoops Habit . Chris . St. Jean . 28 June 2015.
  28. http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=103962 acb.com
  29. http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=104018 acb.com