If you’ve been following Interbasket the last couple years, you’ve probably noticed that Rudy Fernandez has joined Arvydas Sabonis, Manu Ginobili, Yao MIng, Andris Biedrins, and Ricky Rubio as one of Interbasket’s favorite international basketball players.

After a great performance in the Olympics that included a dunk on Dwight Howard, the 23-year old Fernandez now has a huge following he has received in Portland.

And Rudy continued to impress with a solid preseason that saw him show flashes of brillance.  Rudy led the Blazers in steals, with 2.6 a game, and was tied third with 4 assists per game.  And Fernandez was fourth in scoring on the team, averaging 12 points per game.

So as one of his official fanboys, we thought it would be appropriate to talk up his NBA debut.

The Debut: Not Quite a Rookie
The NBA regular season started last night with Rudy’s Trailblazers taking on last season’s runners-up Los Angeles Lakers.

This was the night of Greg Oden’s official NBA debut and Brandon Roy’s terible shooting night, Spanish superstar Rudy Fernandez scored 16 points in about 29 minutes.  And also during Portland’s 96-76 loss, Rudy had 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and no turnovers.

> Follow Rudy Fernendez’s progress this season <

Rudy accumulated his points by shooting 5-10 from the field; starting out his scoring with a one-handed runner in the lane, a fadeaway rainbow jumper at the free-throw line, 3 three-pointers and 3 free throws.

“I’m not surprised at what Rudy (does),” said Portland’s coach Nate McMillan after one of Portland’s preseason wins. “I’ve said all along his feel for the game is the best part of his game. He makes the right pass at the right time. I think that’s the strength of his game.”

I too, am impressed by his patience and his ability to read the game.  Fernandez didn’t seem as if he had any nerves (I guess 7 years in the ACB will do that for you), nor did he seem as if he was concerned about his first NBA game.  He played like an NBA veteran on his NBA debut night.

Sergio to Rudy Alley-Oop: Get Ready for it
Sergio Rodriquez and Rudy tried to come together on one of their patented baseline alley-oops, but the pass was a bit off by Sergio.  Portland fans will come to realise that when these two Spanairds share the court, they have a great chemistry together; and once they get the time together on the court, Portland fans will be have come up with a nickname for when they finally connect a few times on the alley-oop.

Links and Resources: NBA – Portland T)rail Blazers/Los Angeles Lakers Box Score Tuesday October 28, 2008 (Yahoo! Sports), Rudy Fernandez dunks on Dwight Howard (Interbasket), Courtside Blog (Hoopsworld), Blazer’s Fernandez on NBA Fast Track (AHN), Portland Welcomes Rudy Fernandez Video (OregonLive)