Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Llull reflect on the upcoming Real Madrid-Olympiacos semifinal in Berlin and name some of the most memorable moments and players in the history of the rivalry. Lull reveals his thoughts on his basketball future, while Rudy comments on Olympiacos' players not getting All-EuroLeague nods.
At 39, Rudy Fernandez is happy to be able to play his 9th career Final Four in Berlin. It will also be his last one.
"It looks like that's the Last Dance for me," the veteran forward told BasketNews after Real Madrid's practice in the Uber arena.
"I'll try to do my best. We come with confidence from the regular season, but in the end, we know that what we have done before does not serve any purpose in the two upcoming games."
Rudy is referring to the semifinal against Olympiacos Piraeus on Friday night (21:00 CET) and, depending on how that game pans out for Los Blancos, Sunday's fixture, which will either be the season's most significant or most indifferent game.
Rudy's last Final Four has a special significance for another Real Madrid veteran.
"It's an extra motivation for us to play well and give him his last EuroLeague trophy," Sergio Llull told BN Sports' Eftychia Oikonomidou.
"It will be really difficult to play this Final Four, but lifting the trophy will be even more."
Llull, 37, was the man of last year's final game when he made a rainbow jump shot over Olympiacos' Moustapha Fall's extended arms. The 2017 EuroLeague MVP has a rich history of circus shots, but a game-winner in the title game is the stuff legends are made of.
Lull admitted he's watched that shot several times ever since.
"It was a very happy moment in my career. To be able to win the EuroLeague with your shot, I think, is a dream for any basketball player. It is a basket that I will always cherish. I hope to make it again."
According to Sergio Rodriguez, who made several clutch plays down the stretch in last year's final, Rudy's imminent retirement doesn't affect the squad.
Sergio Llull
| Team: |
Real Madrid |
| Position: | PG |
| Age: | 36 |
| Height: | 190 cm |
| Weight: | 91 kg |
| Birth place: | Menorca, Spain |
"We don't feel it," he told SDNA's Giorgos Zakkas. "We don't feel like we're dealing with a simple game because we're in the Final Four. But we've been here many times, and we know how to prepare."
"We don't think about it that much," Fabien Causeur confirmed.
"We know Rudy will retire after this season, but we're trying to concentrate on our main objective, which is to win again. We don't want to be filled with emotions because sometimes such situations are dangerous."
In contrast to Fernandez, who's already set up a retirement plan, Llull has no intention of calling it a career anytime soon. That's one of the reasons why he vehemently refuses to classify that legendary shot as his all-time highlight.
"I wouldn't say that was the high point of my career because I still have years of basketball left in me," he argued.
"I hope to continue playing for a few more years. I take it year by year. This season, I feel very good physically, which for me is important to be able to contribute to the team. When you reach a certain age, you think about it year after year. I hope I can play next year as well," he pointed out.
Facing Olympiacos in a EuroLeague Final Four brings out the best in Real Madrid's veterans. Lull calls those matchups 'EuroLeague classics,' emphasizing the Reds' ability to deploy toughness and intensity on the defensive end.
"They're always a very tough team," Lull told BasketNews.
"We know each other very well. They have great players. If I had to choose one, I'd stick with Nigel [Williams-Goss], who knows us very well."
Fernandez was in his very first season with Madrid when the Spanish powerhouse played the 2013 Final Four in London and lost to Olympiacos. It was just the prelude to a glorious modern era in the club's illustrious history, including three continental crowns in 2015, 2018, and 2023.
Still, that 2013 final, where Vassilis Spanoulis delivered a unique one-man show in the second half, can't escape Rudy's memory.
"There have been a lot of players that marked the history of those games, but no one like Spanoulis. He's a European basketball legend. I've had the opportunity to play against him many times, and I have had to defend him as well.
For me, he's a player who has marked an era," Fernandez said of the retired EuroLeague legend who's currently coaching Peristeri in the Greek league.
Hence, winning a Final Four against Olympiacos last year provided a unique feeling, which was enhanced by Llull's game-winner.
"That was the cherry on top of a difficult year for us that ended in the best way possible," Rudy reflected.
"I think any game against Olympiacos has always been nice. I have enjoyed it very much. I think it always generates a lot of interest."
Speaking of the two rivals, the 3-time EuroLeague champ thinks Real Madrid have changed little compared to last year.
"Maybe we have more experience," he added.
"We had a great regular season, but that has nothing to do with the Final Four. At this point, the favorites for the title exist only on paper. All four teams are perfect candidates for the title."
Fernandez, who will be playing with Spain in the upcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, said he really likes the way Olympiacos' roster was put together.
"They have added more experienced players, both inside and outside," he pondered.
Still, since the Greek side has been left without a representative in the two All-EuroLeague Teams, one could argue that there's hardly any player who stands out from the rest on Giorgos Bartzokas' squad.
Fernandez, for one, couldn't care less about personal accolades.
"Ah, I don't vote, and they don't tell me who to vote for or anything," he reacted. "Honestly, I think players need to pay zero attention to those things."
A two-time First Team and one-time Second Team member, the Spanish swingman has every right to prioritize the team over personal recognition. That has always been the way to success -- and Rudy has walked every step of it.
