Sergio Rodriguez has retired at 38, concluding a distinguished 21-year career with multiple championships and accolades.
Spanish basketball legend Sergio Rodriguez retired from professional basketball at the age of 38, he announced on social media.
"The day has come. After 20 years as a basketball player, I would like to share with all of you a decision that will change my life. The time has come to put an end to my sports career.
"I feel that this season, in which we have won the ACB League title, the Cup, and the Super Cup, is the perfect time to say goodbye. I always dreamed of retiring while being physically well and winning my last game, and now life has offered me this gift.
"Ending my career at Real Madrid is a dream come true, and even more so after winning five titles in the last two seasons, including the historic EuroLeague triumph in Kaunas.
"I have been able to make my dreams as a child come true and experience the emotions that I felt then. I have enjoyed and had fun from the first minute on the court.
"I debuted with Club Estudiantes, who trusted me when I was only 17 years old. I have played for the biggest club in the world, Real Madrid, winning all the possible titles, and I have fulfilled my great desire to play in the NBA for five seasons.
"Furthermore, I have had the privilege of representing my country with the Spanish national team and winning 7 medals. ..."
Rodriguez is a three-time EuroLeague champion (2015, 2019, 2023), EuroLeague MVP in 2014, All-EuroLeague First Team member the same year, four-time ACB League champion (2013, 2015, 2016, 2024), Italian League winner in 2022, Olympic silver (2012) and bronze (2016) medalist, world champion (2006), European champion (2015), European silver medalist (2007) and two-time EuroBasket bronze winner (2013, 2017).
'Chacho' began his career with Estudiantes back in the 2003-04 season. He remained at Estudiantes until 2006, when he moved to the NBA. Having played for the Portland Trail Blazers between 2006 and 2009 and then the Sacramento Kings and the New York Knicks in the 2009-10 season, Rodriguez returned to Spain by joining Real in the summer of 2010.
He remained with Los Blancos for six years before returning to the NBA once again, suiting up for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016-17 campaign.
Rodriguez decided to head back to Europe the following summer, though, as he signed for CSKA Moscow in 2017. In his first season in Russia, Rodriguez was named to the 2017-18 All-EuroLeague Second Team, before becoming a EuroLeague champion for the second time in 2019.
Following that success, the Spaniard signed for EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, where he stayed for the next three years. Then, in the summer of 2022, he rejoined Real and became a EuroLeague champion once again.
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