Three-time EuroLeague champ Sergio Rodriguez retires

'El Chacho' officially finishes a legendary basketball career

Sergio Rodriguez has announced that he will no longer play professional basketball, putting an end to a legendary career that allowed him to be one of the greatest winners in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague history. The 38-year-old, nicknamed "El Chacho", announced his retirement days after winning the Spanish League with Real Madrid, the club for which he played the longest in his career.

"After 20 years as a basketball player, I would like to share with you a decision that will change my life. It is time for me to put an end to my career. I feel like this season, in which we won the Spanish League, Cup and Supercup titles, is the perfect time to say goodbye. I always dreamed of retiring being in good shape and winning my last game and now life gave me that gift," Rodriguez said. "The time has come. I gave everything I had and enjoyed the sport I love like I could never imagine. Thank you for this incredible 20-year journey."

Born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Rodriguez grew up with Siglo XXI and made his EuroLeague debut with Spanish side Estudiantes Madrid in the 2004-05 season. After winning the World Cup with the Spanish national team in 2006, Rodriguez went on to play in the NBA for the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks. He joined Real Madrid in 2010 for a first stint that lasted six seasons. In those years, Rodriguez helped Real reach four Final Fours and three EuroLeague Championship Games, including lifting the trophy in 2015 for the club's first continental crown in 20 years. Rodriguez was also chosen as the 2013-14 EuroLeague MVP. After a year with the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, Rodriguez joined CSKA Moscow, where he spent two years and won his second EuroLeague crown in 2019. His next stop was EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, which Rodriguez helped to the 2021 Final Four, the club's first appearance in nearly two decades. He returned to Los Blancos in 2022 and won a third EuroLeague crown in 2023.

Added to his three EuroLeague championships, Rodriguez won four Spanish League and five Spanish Cup titles with Los Blancos and won the Intercontinental Cup in 2015. He also won VTB United League championships with CSKA in 2018 and 2019, an Italian League and Cup double in 2022, and another Italian Cup in 2021.

Rodriguez won a gold medal with the Spanish national team at EuroBasket 2015, two Olympic medals (silver in London 2012 and bronze in Rio 2016) and three more EuroBasket medals: silver in 2007 and bronze in 2013 and 2017. He finishes his career ranked second all-time on the EuroLeague's assists list (1,874), seventh in scoring (3,772 points), third in three-point shots made (609), eighth in steals (309) and ninth in PIR (4,095). Worldwide famous for his flashy playing style, no-look passes, clutch three-pointers and trademark beard, Rodriguez had one of the most beautiful careers in basketball.