Fernando Martín Espina
Encyclopedia
Fernando Martín Espina (born March 15, 1962 in Madrid
, Spain
– died December 3, 1989 in Madrid, Spain) is considered one of the best Spanish
basketball
players ever.
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 Castile
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 one of the first Europeans 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 has not used since 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.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
– died December 3, 1989 in Madrid, Spain) is considered one of the best Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
players ever.
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
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
champion in Castile
Castile (historical region)
A former kingdom, Castile gradually merged with its neighbours to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain when united with the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Navarre...
as well as a gaining high rankings in handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
, table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
and judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
.
Martin was the first Spanish player to play in the NBA, in 1986, and one of the first Europeans to play in this league. He played for the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
and, earlier, in Spain for Estudiantes
CB Estudiantes
Club Baloncesto Estudiantes, S.A.D., known as Asefa Estudiantes for sponsorship reasons, is a basketball team based in the city of Madrid, Community of Madrid. It is member of the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto . Founded in 1948, it is one of the most recognized basketball teams in Spain...
and Real Madrid
Real Madrid Baloncesto
Real Madrid Baloncesto is a Spanish professional basketball team founded in 1932 as a division of the Real Madrid club. They play in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto ....
. 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
Spain national basketball team
The Spanish national basketball team is the basketball team representing Spain in international competitions, organized and run by the Spanish Basketball Federation...
and was a prominent player in the Spanish team that won the silver medal in the Los Angeles Olympic Games of 1984
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
. Martín also represented his country in the 1981
EuroBasket 1981
The 1981 FIBA European Basketball Championship, commonly called EuroBasket 1981, was the 22nd regional championship held by FIBA Europe. The competition was hosted by Czechoslovakia and took place from May 26 to June 5, 1981...
, 1983
EuroBasket 1983
-Venues:-Group A - Limoges :-Group B - Cannes :-Places 9 - 12:-Places 5 - 8:-Places 1 - 4:-Finals:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # -Team rosters:...
and 1985
EuroBasket 1985
-Venues:-Group A - Karlsruhe :-Group A - Leverkusen :-Places 9 - 12 in Stuttgart:-1/4 finals :-Places 5 - 8 in Stuttgart:-Places 1 - 4 in Stuttgart:-Finals in Stuttgart:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # #...
European basketball championship
Eurobasket
The EuroBasket, also referred to as the FIBA European Basketball Championship, is the main basketball competition contested biennially by the men's national teams governed by FIBA Europe, the European zone within the International Basketball Federation. The championship was first held in 1935 and...
, 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
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
engine. His death caused an enormous shock in Spanish basketball.
In 2007, he was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame honors basketball players, coaches and administrators who have contributed to international competitive basketball. It was established by FIBA in 1991. It includes the "Samaranch Library", the biggest basketball library in the world that, as of 2007, has over 10,000 basketball...
. Martin wore the number 10 on his shirt which Real Madrid has not used since his death.
His son, Jan Martín
Jan Martín
Jan Martín is an German-Israeli-Spanish professional basketball player who last played for Maccabi Ashdod from the Israeli Ligat Ha'all and previously for Spanish side CB Illescas.- Biography :...
, made a start in the Spanish pro league ACB
Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto
The Liga ACB, known as the Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Spain. It was founded in 1956 with the name of Liga Nacional. The league changed its name to the current one in 1983. The league is rated as one of the three "A" level European...
in CB Estudiantes
CB Estudiantes
Club Baloncesto Estudiantes, S.A.D., known as Asefa Estudiantes for sponsorship reasons, is a basketball team based in the city of Madrid, Community of Madrid. It is member of the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto . Founded in 1948, it is one of the most recognized basketball teams in Spain...
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
Rudy Fernández (basketball)
Rodolfo "Rudy" Fernández y Farrés is a Spanish professional basketball player. He is a 6'6" tall shooting guard/small forward who is currently signed to the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, though he will play for Real Madrid until the current NBA lockout ends...
wore a #10 Martin Blazers jersey in his honor.