This February, Fernando moved again, aiming to rebuild his career with the Houston Rockets.
"I'm just thrilled that I've got another shot, another opportunity to continue to work and elevate my game," he said.
"It's been a journey, a rollercoaster, but I wouldn't change anything about it. I'm happy and glad that it happened the way it did.
"There have been good and bad days - tough moments. Those I only use to build me up. As a player it's easy to get caught up in a place and time and just start to compare yourself with other people and their journey.
"But you need to realise that everybody has it different. I've always believed that the things that got me here were the reasons to keep me here."
For now, Fernando is focused on making an impact with the Rockets, for whom he has re-signed ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season.
"Coming to Houston was like finding the light, I was in a very dark place," Fernando explains. "Being able to come into a fresh energy, with a lot of young guys in a similar situation to myself, trying to solidify themselves in the league and establish themselves was refreshing.
"Being able to play basketball and have fun, being like a kid again. It took me away from the dark place and helped me enjoy the game of basketball again.
"Houston is the perfect place for me at this stage of my career; the guys they've got, the organisation itself, everything they are building - I'm excited to see the future and where it goes."
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