A week ago, just a few hours after he added his first victory as head of the Brooklyn Nets, Jordi Fernández (Badalona, 1982), kind and close, sat down with La Vanguardia to reflect on the path that has led him to the top . The milestone achieved, becoming the first Spanish coach in the history of the NBA, does not seem to have altered his usual tranquility one bit.
He stopped playing and started training at a very young age…
Probably because it was very bad.
But did you like it?
I really liked to compete in anything. And during my training years I did play at the highest level and enjoyed it a lot.
So?
When I was in the EBA League I got the opportunity to coach my first senior team, I must have been 20 or 21 years old. I had already trained a junior but this was one more step. And with university involved and all that, what motivated me most at that moment was training.
Because?
It gave me the chance to compete and do it more in the long term. I don’t think I would have gotten much further playing at a professional level. Training has always been what I liked the most because at a competitive level it filled me a lot.
His way of being
“I don’t have social networks. “I think they are a bad thing, especially for young people.”
At what point did crossing the pond enter your life equation?
When I started coming to the United States, I did it at my own expense, by working. I must have been 21 or 22 years old and it was a very big effort. Also, it was hard because while all my friends went on vacation in the summer I came here and worked. In addition to the stay, he had to pay for the trip, which was very expensive.
What appealed to you so much about the American experience?
I was traveling alone and I had a great time. I was very excited to learn and do so from such important players and coaches. It was a different life.
What memories do you have of those years?
I remember that I did it out of excitement, it didn’t come with the obligation to have a job and stay. I just did it and the opportunities came to me. I believe in sacrifice working and it paid off. I got a job for a year and I came without knowing almost English and to see what would happen.
And it happened to go wonderfully…
I arrived with one hand in front and one behind, and now I have been going step by step for 15 years.
What is the hardest thing about being 15 years away from your origins?
There have been special moments that have been difficult, from operations to illnesses, or weddings and birthdays of those around me that I have missed. If you add it all up, it’s hard and, honestly, it makes me very sad.
Its beginnings
“While my friends went on vacation all summer, I came to the United States and worked”
There must be a good side…
It is true that your friends and family are very happy and very proud that I can be here doing what I like.
Has it been worth the effort?
This work is now much more recognized than before, but 15 years ago for me what I did had the same value, or even more. For me nothing has changed. I always say that being head coach is just one more step but that the important steps were those at the beginning, those were difficult and hard. Now let’s move on to the next one, which is the philosophy that has always helped me.
Fernando Martín paved the way almost 40 years ago and now you have gone one step further. Do you notice the significance of what you have achieved?
Basketball is a game of players, they are the ones who win the games, so I don’t compare myself to Fernando Martín, but it is an honor and a pride to be the first Spaniard to lead an NBA team. But for me it goes further, it is being able to teach young coaches that there is a way to do it and that it is possible for everyone.
He is very clear about it.
The important thing is that the next person doesn’t take so long to arrive, it would be what would make me most excited and fulfill me the most.
After spending almost your entire career in the United States, do you think that all your merits are recognized in Spain?
I appreciate any recognition and it makes me proud, but it’s not something I care too much about. My job is basketball and, for example, I understand that the media is an important part so that the fan can know what is happening, it is an important part of the business, but I don’t give too much importance to personal recognition.
He also doesn’t have social networks…
No, no networks or anything like that. And on a personal level it helps me a lot in my daily life.
And so?
Networks are more negative than positive because they give voice to many people and the trend is always towards the negative. I would say that one negative input is equivalent to ten positive ones. I think that in general they are a bad thing and, above all, for young people.
a wish
“What would satisfy me most about what I have achieved is that the next one would not take so long to arrive.”
The last one, is returning to Europe on your agenda?
I would be very excited, there is no doubt about that. In the end I grew up there and I would really like to be able to train in ACB and in the Euroleague. But I think I still have a long way to go here, so I have to go step by step.
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