Tell me who you're travelling with

Which cities does Rudy Fernández enjoy between hoops?

The biography of this Mallorcan native and standard-setter of European basketball is full of fascinating places. We went through them with him.

CEvery one of the cities in our biography evokes different memories. If I mention Palma de Mallorca, what do you associate it with?

_My family was born in Catalonia, but my father had to move to Mallorca for work. I was born on the islands and that's where my family and friends are. Although I left when I was very young, I try to visit whenever I can. For me, it's very important that my kids get to know the place where I grew up.

And Barcelona?

_At the age of 12 I moved to Badalona to train as a basketball player [with the Joventut de Badalona youth academy]. My uncles and grandparents were in Catalonia, so it was like coming home. Barcelona is synonymous with family.

What can you tell me about Portland?

_On the sports side it was an incredible experience. I fulfilled the dream of playing in the NBA. And as a city... I loved it. It is a really green city, surrounded by nature... When the sun comes out it's spectacular. The only thing is that it doesn't come out that often...

Then you were traded to Denver...

_A beautiful city. Perfect for winter sports. The Aspen ski resort is very close by.

And, back to Spain, Madrid.

_I see it as my home. I'm very at ease there with my family and I feel that it will be my home for many years to come.

The road to top-level sport has been long, and not always easy...

_I remember many players with more talent than me in lower categories, but not many of them made it to professional level. I've been very lucky. But it hasn't been easy. My family has made a lot of sacrifices. And that's why I want my children to be aware of the effort it takes to achieve your dreams.

In 2006, you won the world championship in Japan. What are your memories of the Asian country?

_Asia has brought a lot of luck to the Spanish national team. In 2008 we won silver at the Beijing Olympics. Then again in 2019, we were world champions in China. I'm hoping to take part in my fifth Olympic games in Japan.

Given your profession, travelling, catching a plane must be like getting on a bus for the rest of us.

_It's true, I've been really used to planes since I was little. Interestingly, I've always found it easy to fall asleep on aeroplanes. However, since I've been a dad, I find it a lot harder. I don't really know why. Of course, I always take the tablet on board with me.

To pass the time on a flight, which book and tv series do you recommend?

_The series Entourage; I was shocked when I first saw it. It also helped me learn English. And Open, Andre Agassi's biography, I think it's brilliant.

Reading allows us to travel through time... But, if you had a real time machine, what period in history would you visit?

_Argh, that's a tough one... As a child, my grandfather explained World War II to me. And it would be amazing to see it first hand. But only as a spectator, of course. Despite the difficulties, I'm very happy living in the present.

On your list of destinations to visit, which one comes first?

_Argentina. I’ve had a lot of Argentine teammates and they've given me an urge to get to know the country. And Australia also seems like a really inspiring destination to me.

When you arrive in a new city, what is the first thing you visit?

_I’m a foodie and I'm interested in gastronomy. And, of course, I also try to visit the most popular spots: I've been to the Great Wall of China, the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, in the Tulúm ruins in Mexico...