Fernando Martin died a tragic death in a traffic accident in 1989. He was the first European without college experience to be drafted in the NBA.
Martin studied in the San Jose School of the Park of the Marists where he claims he spent the worst years of his life. He is father of Jan Fernando Martín next to the German model Petra Sonneborn. Their parents raised him to love many sports and he exceled in many. Fernando Martin wasn't only a great basketball player, he was also 5 times champion of swimming in Castile and reached a great level in judo, table tennis and handball. Back in 1991, FIBA named Fernando Martin as one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players

2009 NBA Slam Dunk Tribute
In 2009, Spanish superstar Rudy Fernandez would become the first European player to participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Before his first dunk attempt, Fernandez would dedicate his first dunk to Fernando Martin. Fernandez shed his #5 trailblazer jersey to reveal the #10 that Fernando Martin wore during his brief stint with the Blazers in the 1986-87 season.
Source(s):
http://www.interbasket.net/players/fernando.htm


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