Rudy fernandez, captain of the Spanish basketball team, considered that “justice has not been done” with his teammate Juancho Hernangómez, who will not be able to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics por the refusal at the last minute of his team, the American team of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Juancho He is sad, he is disappointed and as a colleague and I also consider myself a friend of his, I believe that justice has not been done with the subject of Juancho, for many facets that are also unknown, but I believe that Juancho He has fought from the first moment because they told him that he could be in the Olympics and just when he travels and is in team dynamics that letter comes, not giving him the option to compete in an Olympic dream, “he said. Rudy fernandez.
The Minnesota Timberwolves they communicated this Friday to the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) that did not authorize Juancho Hernangómez to play in Tokyo 2020 considering that he needs more time to recover from the shoulder injury he suffered on July 8, a notification that according to the FEB is a drastic change with all the previous communications, in which they gave their support.
The captain of the Spanish team, who shared his reactions at a press conference with the coach Sergio Scariolo, thought that it is “disappointing” for a player who has prepared “as much” as Juancho to get to the Games, he was left without them while he was already in Tokyo and having even participated in the opening ceremony.
“It is disappointing and sad, but at the same time we know what family is, and in that aspect we are going to be with him, I hope he is with us and waiting for Xabi (López-Arostegui) so that he joins as soon as possible, “he added about his replacement, the forward ofl Valencia Basket which was ruled out after the friendly in Las Vegas (USA) against the North American team.
In another vein, Rudy fernandez disputes his fifth Olympic Games in Tokyo, which places him next to Pau Gasol in a select group to which players like Spanish belong Juan Carlos Navarro, the brazilian Oscar Schmidt, the Puerto Rican Teofilo Cruz and the australian Andrew Gaze.
“I have lived through everything. I could say of the first one that it is the one that makes the most illusion and above all I shared it with my sisterMarta Fernandez, also a basketball player), but also all the medals we have been able to get. It is difficult to stay with one, I hope I can also stay with this one, that will mean that we have done things well “, considered the forward
Regarding your partner Pau Gasol, who attends these Games after overcoming a two-year injury, explained that he sees him “with a great desire to contribute.”
“For us he is a benchmark, not only on the court but also off, he has shown it in these two years off the court, preparing day and night to get here and be an important player and one more player to contribute to the path the selection “, he finished Rudy fernandez.