Felipe Reyes, which this Thursday announced its withdrawal, declared that, although the “body and the head” tell him that he could play some more time, he decides to put an end to his career to face “with enthusiasm” a future of which he does not know where his steps will go, although it does intend to “give back to basketball everything” what it has given.
“The moment comes that no player wants to come. I have always given one hundred percent and I have left my soul on the court. Now I feel that an unforgettable stage of my life is ending because I have been lucky enough to play for the two great teams in my city, Estudiantes and Real Madrid”Said Felipe Reyes, during the farewell ceremony organized by the Madrid club.
“My love affair with basketball started when I was ten years old, to play a friendly at boarding school, and that day completely changed my life. After several years learning to play, I achieved my first dream, which was to debut as a professional, and I achieved it in October 1998. Now, 23 years later, my love and passion for basketball are still intact ”, he confessed.
Reyes stated that he “I would like to continue playing for more years to enjoy the companions and the jokes” and he assured that, “although the head and the body” tell him that he can “give a little more, it is time to leave it”.
“I look forward to the future without knowing where my steps are going, although I want to give back to this sport how much it has given me. Now it will be my family who will have the priority in my day to day ”, he pointed out.
“Basketball has given me my best friends, but the best thing it has given me is the love of my life, Kirenia. Since then I have been the happiest man in the world ”, stated Felipe Reyes, who also had a memory for his deceased father, whom he has“ present every day ”, his mother, and his brothers.
“Alfonso has been my great reference. My idol in basketball and above all I have been lucky enough to share a dressing room with him in Estudiantes and the national team ”, he stressed.
He called Real Madrid, with whom he won 23 titles in 17 years, the club of his “life”. “He has given me everything and here I retire as a veteran.” “From this team I have learned everything. I have been trained as a player, as a person and I have learned values that are more important than any of the titles, like never giving up, fighting to the limit or realizing that talent and quality without constant work are useless, “he said.
“Thanks also to Florentino Pérez (President) for his unconditional support and for having made my great dream come true, playing for the best club in the world, “he said.
Finally, the pivot also wanted “Give thanks” to Students, in which he trained and began his stage as a professional player because “they always gave me affection.”
Felipe Reyes, who was born in Córdoba on March 16, 1980, trained in the Students, whose first squad he joined in 1999. With the collegiate team he won the first of his titles, the Copa del Rey in 2000.
Signed by Real Madrid in 2004 and, since then, he won a total of 23 titles dressed in white: two Euroleague (2015 and 2018), seven ACB Leagues (2005, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019), six King’s Cups (2012 , 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020), six Spanish Super Cups (2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2020), one Intercontinental Cup (2015) and one Euro Cup (2007).
Also, as absolute internationalFelipe Reyes was world champion in 2006 in Japan and Eurobasket in 2009, 2011 and 2015. As an Olympian, he won two silver medals in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.