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The last time Team USA ran into Rudy Fernandez, he scored 22 points in the 2008 Olympic gold-medal game and kept upset-minded Spain alive with a series of spectacular plays in a scintillating 118-107 loss.The Americans are in line to see him again this summer.
The Portland guard said in an interview with FanHouse that Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo recently called him. Fernandez told him his health is doing well and he's committed to play in the World Championships, Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Turkey.
Fernandez had wondered if his health might keep him from playing when he missed 19 straight games in December and January due to back surgery. But Fernandez, who had a microdiscectomy to relieve pressure from a nerve root, has returned to play in the past 26 games.
"Right now, I feel good,'' said Fernandez, averaging 8.9 points. "I don't have any pain in my back after the surgery. I feel great.''
Fernandez, 24, said his health is the only thing that would keep him out of the World Championships. He has played regularly for the senior Spanish national team since being a 19-year-old at the Athens Olympics in 2004, when his team was 5-0 until losing a quarterfinal 102-94 to Team USA and failing to medal.
But the Spanish certainly have made up for it by winning the gold medal 2006 World Championships in Japan, when Fernandez averaged 9.1 points, earning silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, when Fernandez averaged 13.1, and taking gold at the 2009 European Championships in Poland, with Fernandez averaging 13.2.
Now, he'll try to lead the Spanish to another Worlds gold.
"I want to play for the World Championships,'' Fernandez said. "It's a good experience for me. I want to play on the national team, and represent my country.''
"He's probably not going to play,'' Fernandez said. "I respect his decision. He has played a lot of games, playing with the Lakers in the Finals (the past two years). He played last summer (winning MVP at the European Championships). He's not a machine. It's not like he's 18 years old. He's (29). He's got to rest. I understand.''
But Fernandez expects all of Spain's other top players to participate in Turkey. He said Spain still has a "good chance with Marc Gasol'' of Memphis replacing his brother as the starting center, and also expects Toronto guard Jose Calderon, New York guard Sergio Rodriguez and guard Ricky Rubio, whose draft rights are held by Minnesota, to play.
So can Spain, which beat Greece 70-47 in Japan in the 2006 final after Team USA had lost in the semifinals to Greece, possibly outpoint the Americans for another Worlds gold?
"It's tough because probably USA comes with the same team (from the 2008 Olympics), '' Fernandez said. "But all the competition is difficult. It's difficult for us, but we play hard every game and we will see.''
If Fernandez plays the way he did the last time he ran into the Americans, that certainly will bode well for Spain.
Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson
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