SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 30 September (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo of Tenerife declared today that it will honour basketball player Sergio Rodríguez as ‘Illustrious Son of the Island of Tenerife’ recognising his remarkable sports achievements.
‘Chacho’, who recently hung up his boots, has amassed numerous collective and individual accolades during his 21-year professional journey and has served as an exceptional ambassador for Tenerife.
Among his many accomplishments are the World Championship in Japan (2006) and the European Championship with the Spanish National Team (2015), as well as silver and bronze medals secured at the Olympic Games in London (2012) and Rio (2016).
Furthermore, he made history as the first player from Tenerife and the Canary Islands to compete in the NBA, representing the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.
The president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, emphasises in a statement Sergio Rodríguez’s achievements “alongside his humility and character.”
“He is an individual who, despite his significant success at both an international and national level, remains grounded and approachable. He serves as a role model for all the residents of Tenerife and, particularly, for aspiring basketball players. This honour is well-deserved as Sergio Rodríguez has consistently been a beacon for Tenerife and one of the most outstanding athletes on the island throughout its history,” she remarked.
The Tenerife native began his career in the junior ranks of Unelco Tenerife, later moving to the Siglo XXI Training Centre in the Basque Country and ultimately joining Estudiantes, from where he made the leap to the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and New York Knicks.
Subsequently, he played for Real Madrid, returned to the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, and then transitioned to Russian basketball (CSKA), followed by a stint at Olimpia Milano.
Sergio Rodríguez concluded his sporting career with Real Madrid this summer.
While representing the Spanish National Team, Sergio Rodríguez secured gold at the European Under-18 Championship (2004), gold at the World Championship (2006), silver at Eurobasket (2007), silver at the London Olympic Games (2012), bronze at Eurobasket (2013), gold at Eurobasket (2015), bronze at the Rio Olympic Games (2016), and bronze at Eurobasket (2017).
At the club level, he achieved three Euroleague titles—being the first Spanish player to win with a foreign club and also the first to do so with two different teams—as well as four ACB Leagues, five Copas del Rey, five Spanish Super Cups, two VTB United League titles, and an Italian Basketball League title, along with a Cup and a Super Cup. He also secured an Intercontinental Cup.
On an individual level, Sergio Rodríguez garnered multiple titles, including Revelation Player of the 2004/05 season in the ACB League, MVP of the 2004 European Junior Championship, and MVP of the 2013 Spanish Basketball Super Cup.
Additionally, he was selected for the ACB ideal quintet during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons as well as the Euroleague ideal quintet in the 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 seasons.
Moreover, he was named Euroleague MVP for the 2013-2014 season. Additionally, he received the Endesa award in 2013-2014, the Kia award for the most spectacular player in the 2013-2014 ACB League, and the award for best passer in the 2013-2014 ACB League. He was also awarded the Canary Islands Award in the Sports category in 2018 and named Best Male Athlete by the Tenerife Sports Press Association on several occasions.
In 2007, the Cabildo of Tenerife acknowledged the sporting accomplishments of Sergio Rodríguez by naming a basketball court in the Tenerife Santa Cruz-Ofra Sports Complex, which was under construction at the time, in his honour after he helped the Spanish National Team win the World Championship.
