We are recalling all foreign players that have ever played in the League, telling about foreign championships and National teams of different countries in World basketball map project. Today we’re going to talk about basketball in Mexico
Population: 128.7 mln
Players in the history of League: 2
Full list of players: Gustavo Ayon, Francisco Cruz.
Gustavo Ayon is the most popular Mexican in VTB United League. 2-time Euroleague champion (as a Real player) spent 2019/20 season in Zenit St. Petersburg. Ayon became team’s leader in efficiency (16.6) and rebounds (6.1). Furthermore, the center was elected to join the World Stars team in VTB League’s All-Star Game.
Another Mexican is ex-VEF guard Francisco Cruz. Born in the Mexican Nogales, he played for the Latvian team in 2015/16 season and was the best in points (13.5) and assists (5.2).
Plus, in VTB League history, there were two American players with Mexican passports: Alex Perez (VEF, 2017-18), and Paul Stoll (Avtodor, 2015-16). In 2015/16 season Stoll was the league’s leader in assists (7.6 per game).
Basketball in Mexico
League: Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP)
Founded: 2000
Number of teams: 17
League’s web-site: https://www.lnbp.mx/
Mexican LNBP was founded in 2000, and overall of 73 clubs have played there. Today, there are 17 teams divided into the East and West zones. After the regular season, 8 teams qualify for the playoffs which are played in best-of-seven series.
Within 20 years of the league, 15 teams have made it to the finals of LNBP, and 11 have won it. Soles Mexicali and Halcones Xalapa share the most number of titles as both have 4 victories.
Mexican clubs also compete for the Basketball Champions League of America (called FIBA Americas League until 2019). In 2012, Mexican Pioneros Quintana won the title.
Mexican league has its own motto “Believe in your game”, 11 TV partners and famous players. In 2004, 5-time NBA champion Dennis Rodman played in LNBP, and MVP of 2018 was Golden State forward Juan Toscano-Anderson.
Interesting fact
Mexican basketball federation works in close cooperation with the NBA. Since 2014, 10 games of the NBA’s regular season have been played in Mexico.
Commencing 2020/21 season, professional Mexican club Capitanes will join G League (NBA development league). This team will be independent, not being an NBA’s team farm club.
Mexico National team
FIBA rank: 25
FIBA members: since 1993
Achievements: American champios (2013), Olympic bronze (1936)
Mexico joined FIBA in 1933, and three years later they took part in the first Olympic basketball tournament. In Berlin, the Mexicans managed to win the bronze medals: Mexico were beaten by future champions, the USA, in semifinal (10:25), and downed Poland in the 3rd place game (26:12).
It took 67 years for Mexico to achieve another big success. In 2013 America Cup, the “12 warriors” made a sensation by winning the golden medals. In the semifinal against Argentina (76:70) and in the final against Puerto Rico (91:89), the Mexicans had been trailing by 5 before the last quarter, but both times they eventually managed to get the wins. In 2017, Mexico won bronze medals of the same cup.
Mexico overall international record is 7 appearances at the Olympics, 5 World Cups, and 14 America Cups. Today, the team is ranked 25th by FIBA (8th among the American teams).
Most famous Mexican players in history
Manolo Raga. 3-time Euroleague champion, Centrobasket champion, 2-time FIBA Intercontinental Cup winner, 3-time Italian and Switzerland league winner. In 1970, Manolo Raga became the first ever non-US player to be picked at NBA draft. In 2008, Raga appeared in Euroleague’s 50 Greatest Players list, and was inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016.
Carlos Quintanar. Captain of Mexican Olympic team at 1960, 1964 and 1968 Games, 4 appearances at World Cup, and 3 at Panamerican Games. In 1971, Quintanar became the second Mexican to be picked at NBA draft. It’s curious that Carlos didn’t play professionaly in clubs tending to be an amateur player.
Gustavo Ayon. 2013 America Cup Champion and MVP, 2014 Centrobasket champion, 2-time Euroleague champion, 4-time Spanish league winner, 2-time Mexican champion and champion of Venezuela. Plus, Ayon played 3 seasons in the NBA for New Orlean, Orlando, Milwaukee and Atlanta.
Eduardo Najera. The Mexican with the most seasons (12) and games (619) played in the NBA. After finishing his professional player career in 2012, he worked as Texas Legends (D League) head coach for three years.
Jorge Gutierrez. 2013 America Cup Champion, 2014 Centrobasket champion. Gutierrez spent 3 seasons in the NBA (Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Charlotte), and today plays in German league.
Dmitriy Kolinov
