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Fernando Martín (basketball)

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Template:Spanish name

Fernando Martín
Fernando Martín Espina during a game
Personal information
Born(1962-03-25)March 25, 1962
Madrid, Spain
DiedDecember 3, 1989(1989-12-03) (aged 27)
Madrid, Spain
NationalitySpanish
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolEstudiantes, Madrid, Spain
NBA draft1985: 2nd round, 38th overall pick
Selected by the New Jersey Nets
Playing career1979–1989
PositionCenter / Power forward
Career history
1979–1981Estudiantes Mudespa (Spain)
1981–1986Real Madrid (Spain)
1986–1987Portland Trail Blazers
1987–1989Real Madrid (Spain)
Career highlights and awards
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Representing  Spain
Men's Basketball
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1984 Los Angeles National team
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 1983 France National team

Fernando Martín Espina (March 25, 1962 – December 3, 1989) is considered one of the best Spanish basketball players ever.[citation needed]

Martin was 2.06 m tall, and played primarily at center. He was considered a talented all-around athlete. He was a five-time swimming champion in Spain as well as a gaining high rankings in handball, table tennis and judo.

Martin was the first Spanish player to play in the NBA, in 1986, and was the second European to play in this 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 season for the Blazers, having been injured for two months. At the end of the season, he returned to Spain to play again for Real Madrid.

Martin also played for the Spanish national team and was a prominent player in the Spanish team that won the silver medal in the Los Angeles Olympic Games of 1984. Martín also represented his country in the 1981, 1983 and 1985 European basketball championship, and, during the latter, was selected for the all-tournament team.

Martin died in a car accident, crashing his own car, a limited edition Lancia Thema with a Ferrari engine. His death caused an enormous shock in Spanish basketball.

In 2007, he was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame. Martin wore the number 10 on his shirt which Real Madrid retired after his death.

His son, Jan Martín, made a start in the Spanish pro league ACB in CB Estudiantes in the season 2004-2005 and has also played for the Spanish national junior team. His nephew, Dominick Martin, played for Yale and now plays professionally in Spain.

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

References

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