Sergio Rodriguez constructed a fame as one of many Euroleague’s all-time greats, with a profession spanning powerhouse golf equipment like Actual Madrid, CSKA Moscow, and Olimpia Milano, in addition to stints within the NBA with the Portland Path Blazers, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers.
Rodriguez, who signed his first adidas contract in 2003, spoke to HoopsHype solely about his lifelong relationship with the model, his ardour for the sport, and the distinctive tradition variations between leagues around the globe. He additionally opened up about his plans post-retirement, what it means to be thought-about a Euroleague legend, and his delight in seeing worldwide gamers thrive in right this moment’s NBA.
Sergio Rodríguez poses in entrance of the Mandela Wall on the Laureus World Sports activities Awards Madrid 2025 at Galería de Cristal on April 21, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photograph by Pablo Cuadra/Getty Photos for Laureus)
SR: Proper now I’m in a state of affairs the place I need to take a while off to replicate on what I need to do. Basketball is my ardour and I’ll be concerned with basketball. However in the meanwhile I need to deal with the day-by-day, spending extra time with my household. During the last 20 years, I didn’t have actually time to do what I needed. I used to be taking part in basketball, and I used to be having fun with it, however on the similar time, if you retire, you want a while to remain a bit of away to see all the pieces from a distinct facet.
CSKA Moscow’s Spanish guard Sergio Rodriguez holds the trophy after profitable the EuroLeague ultimate basketball towards Anadolu Efes on the Fernando Buesa Enviornment in Vitoria on Could 19, 2019. (Photograph: LLUIS GENE/AFP through Getty Photos)
SR: Yeah, I performed all around the world. I performed in Spain, clearly in america, Russia, Italy… So I’ve a fairly good perspective of what basketball around the globe means and having the chance to play within the NBA was one in every of my desires. Then having the ability to win the Euroleague with Actual Madrid, with CSKA Moscow and having the chance additionally to play right here in Italy with Milano… Such a tremendous, superb expertise. So I really feel very fortunate concerning the profession that I had. I put a whole lot of work and I actually loved my time taking part in. It’s been one thing that rising up I might think about, however the actuality was a lot better.
Sergio Rodriguez of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at Madison Sq. Backyard on February 20, 2010 in New York. (Photograph by Nick Laham/Getty Photos)
SR: You understand, I at all times needed to play within the NBA, and I at all times needed to be with Actual Madrid. So having the chance to have these conditions, having the ability to go at an early age to the States to maintain creating, then coming again to Spain to play with Actual Madrid and having the ability to win a Euroleague, it was an unimaginable achievement. After which having the chance to get again to the NBA, play one season in Philadelphia and afterwards my profession via CSKA and Olimpia Milano and ending in Actual Madrid was an incredible alternative to say goodbye, to benefit from the final couple of seasons, profitable the EuroLeague and profitable titles in Spain… So I really feel very grateful concerning the alternatives that I had in my profession.
Mar 19, 2017; Philadelphia 76ers guard Sergio Rodriguez dribbles the ball as Boston Celtics guard Marcus Sensible defends in the course of the fourth quarter of the sport on the Wells Fargo Middle. The 76ers received 105-99. Credit score: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports activities
SR: There are huge variations. My first time within the NBA was one kind of league. Afterward, once I got here again to play with Philadelphia, it was a completely totally different league. There was a distinction within the recreation, within the construction, within the gamers, coaches, and the way they handled the sport. Extra worldwide gamers additionally on the second time. I’m tremendous grateful for a way I used to be in a position to be in numerous conditions and the way I used to be making changes to be productive in these conditions.
Actual Madrid guard Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Llull and Sergio Rodriguez pose after profitable the Euroleague Remaining 4 basketball ultimate towards Olympiacos Pireus on the Palacio de los Deportes in Madrid on Could 17, 2015. (Credit score: JAVIER SORIANO/AFP through Getty Photos)
SR: That was a tremendous honor. I actually take pleasure in taking part in Euroleague and being in Abu Dhabi subsequent to the blokes that I adopted comply with once I was a child and a number of the teammates that I share groups, a number of the opponents that we now have many, many video games towards. So, you already know, being thought-about probably the greatest gamers of the competitors is a giant achievement and I don’t give that with no consideration.
Sergio Rodriguez dives after a free ball in entrance of Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at Madison Sq. Backyard on February 20, 2010, in New York. (Photograph: Nick Laham/Getty Photos)
SR: I’ve been very fortunate in my profession to have nice teammates round me. It could be very laborious to say one or one other. And the identical with opponents. I’ve performed towards a number of the better of the historical past within the NBA: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James… Many, lots of the guys that dominated the sport for a few years. Additionally right here in Europe, we now have Kyle Hines, who I play towards and with… Vassilis Spanoulis, Juan Carlos Navarro, teammates like Felipe Reyes, Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Lull. So I’ve been very fortunate.
Sergio Rodriguez of Spain celebrates making a three-pointer in the course of the Males’s Basketball gold medal recreation between america and Spain on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympics Video games at North Greenwich Enviornment on August 12, 2012. (Photograph by Harry How/Getty Photos)
SR: Once more, it’s powerful to decide on one, However in all probability, you already know, being within the NBA, profitable the three Euroleagues that I had received, taking part in for Actual Madrid, taking part in for the Nationwide Group, Olympic Video games of 2012, that we obtained the silver medal. So there are moments, profitable the European Championship and the gold medal on the World Cup in 2006. So there are various moments. And once I see them and replicate on these moments, I really feel very grateful.
SR: The extent of the remainder of the world is getting nearer to the one within the U.S. I’m following it as a fan, how superb it’s to have these varieties of gamers coming from Europe and being nice gamers within the NBA. I’m trying ahead to extra gamers taking part in there from Europe and I’m having fun with it.
Sergio Rodriguez, Antonio Adan, Karim Benzema and Ricardo Carvalho attend the opening of the brand new Adidas retailer on the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on February 21, 2013 in Madrid, Spain. (Photograph by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Photos)
Sergio Rodriguez: I’ve been a part of it my entire life. I began carrying adidas once I was a child. I signed my first contract with the model in 2003. So, all my life, all my professional profession, I performed with the Adidas footwear, so I really feel a part of the household.
Guerschon Yabusele and Sergio Rodriguez converse to campers this morning and run a Q&A at adidas Eurocamp: pic.twitter.com/jEfn7qnd97
— Nick Crain (@CrainNBA) June 1, 2025
SR: It’s very particular. I got here to Treviso in 2003 being a prospect. After that yr, I signed with Estudiantes. I began taking part in with the primary workforce, after which I performed for 20 years. I simply retired final yr. Having the chance to come back right here and see all the children being in the identical state of affairs that I used to be in 22 years in the past is fairly particular. So, completely satisfied to see them having fun with their time right here, and I’m feeling the state of affairs from a distinct perspective.
