Sergio ‘El Chacho’ Rodríguez will receive the title of Favorite Son of San Cristóbal de la Laguna on February 24 at 7:00 p.m. in an act to be held in the plenary hall of the City Council of his hometown. This award is the highest distinction granted to citizens of this municipality. So, what makes Rodríguez so special? Well, for starters, his trajectory and values in the basketball world have been a reference for several generations of fans.
The mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, emphasized that the appointment is intended to honor Rodríguez’s career and the values he has always represented. He’s been one of the most illustrious citizens of La Laguna in recent years, promoting the municipality nationally and internationally through his clubs and the Spanish basketball team. As Gutiérrez put it, “With this act, we intend to reward effort, dedication, work, and perseverance that Sergio Rodríguez has demonstrated in the world of sport, for so many years of career, and grant him the highest distinction granted by the City of San Cristóbal de la Laguna to its most illustrious citizens.”
After announcing his withdrawal last summer, Sergio Rodríguez is collecting the love of his long sports career. Just recently, during the Copa del Rey in Gran Canaria, he was honored by ACB. Notably, he was the first Canarian to play in the NBA, where he was part of the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and New York Knicks. As a member of the Spanish basketball team, he achieved impressive titles, including a world championship in Japan in 2006, a European championship in France in 2015, and a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Club Career Highlights
At the club level, Rodríguez began his career in the Tenerife Basketball Club and debuted at ACB with the students of Madrid. His most successful stage, however, was at Real Madrid, where he won an impressive 17 titles in his eight seasons, including two Euroligas, an intercontinental, four leagues, five King Cups, and five Spanish Super Cups. What’s more, he was MVP of the Euroleague in the 2013-14 season and also became a European champion with CSKA Moscow. During his stay at Emporio Armani Milan, he won a league, two Cups of Italy, and a Transalpina Super Cup. It’s clear that Rodríguez’s dedication and perseverance have earned him a well-deserved place as a Favorite Son of La Laguna.
