Fernando Martín Espina

Who was Fernando Martín Espina?

Fernando Martín Espina 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.