Fernando Martin (basketball)

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In this Spanish name , the first or paternal surname is Martin and the second or maternal family name is Espina .
Fernando Martin
Fernando Martin Espina during a game
Personal information
Born ( 1962-03-25 ) March 25, 1962
Madrid , Spain
Died December 3, 1989 (1989-12-03) (aged 27)
Madrid, Spain
Nationality Spanish
Listed height 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
NBA draft 1985 : 2nd round, 38th overall pick
Selected by the New Jersey Nets
Playing career 1979?1989
Position Center / power forward
Number 10
Career history
1979?1981 Estudiantes Mudespa
1981?1986 Real Madrid
1986?1987 Portland Trail Blazers
1987?1989 Real Madrid
Career highlights and awards
Stats   Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats   Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com
FIBA Hall of Fame as player
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing   Spain
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1984 Los Angeles
EuroBasket
Silver medal – second place 1983 France
European Championship for Cadets
Bronze medal – third place 1979 Syria Under-16

Fernando Martin Espina (March 25, 1962 – December 3, 1989) was a Spanish professional basketball player who was considered to be one of the best Spanish basketball players ever. [1] Martin was 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) tall, and he played primarily at the center and power forward positions. He was considered a talented all-around athlete. He was a five-time swimming champion in Spain, as well as being a highly ranked athlete in the sports of handball , table tennis and judo .

Martin wore the number 10 jersey , which Real Madrid retired after his death . He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players , in 1991. In 2007, he was enshrined into the FIBA Hall of Fame .

Professional career [ edit ]

Martin was the first Spanish player to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), in 1986, and was also the second European to play in the league. He played for the Portland Trail Blazers and, earlier, in Spain for Estudiantes and Real Madrid . He played in only 24 games in the 1986?87 NBA season for the Blazers , being injured for two months. At the end of the season, he returned to Spain, to play again for Real Madrid.

National team career [ edit ]

Martin also played for the senior Spanish national team , and he was a prominent player in the Spanish team that won the silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games . Martin also represented his country at the 1981 EuroBasket , the 1983 EuroBasket , where he won a silver medal, and the 1985 EuroBasket , where he was selected to the All-Tournament Team .

Death [ edit ]

Martin died in a car accident in the M-30 motorway in Madrid, after crashing his car. His death caused an enormous shock in Spanish basketball .

Personal life [ edit ]

His son, Jan Martin , made a start in the top-tier level Spanish pro league , the ACB , with Estudiantes , in the 2002?03 season, and he also played with the Spanish national junior teams. His nephew, Dominick Martin, played college basketball at Yale University , and also played professionally in Spain. His brother, Antonio Martin Espina , was also a professional basketball player. [2]

For his first dunk in the 2009 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest , Portland Trail Blazers ' player Rudy Fernandez , wore a #10 Martin Blazers jersey, in his honor.

See also [ edit ]

References [ edit ]

  1. ^ Duque, Nacho (3 December 2019). " 'Fernando Martin: 30 anos sin el pionero' " . Marca . Retrieved 7 December 2019 .
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill ; et al. "Fernando Martin" . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com . Sports Reference LLC . Archived from the original on 2016-12-03. Full name: Fernando Martin Espina / Related Olympians: Brother of Antonio Martin

External links [ edit ]

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