Latinos in the NBA: Forum Discussion

[puertoricanballer]

Along with Carlos Arroyo and Delfino, there are other latinos making some noise in this league. Recently, Esteban Batista, a 22 years old center from Uruguay was offered a $900,000/season offer from Atlanta after killing the opposition in the America's World championship qualifier in Dominican Republic. Luis Flores is about to land in Toronto and Peter John Ramos is expected to contribute more to the Wizards is he can control his temper and impruve his consistency. If you speak Spanish and want to speak in your language, let me know. Perhaps we can create a forum about our players.

[roscoe36]

Absolutely. TBird is comfortable communicating in Spanish and willing to help out as a latin moderator.

If there is interest, we'll pursue it. As long as there is sufficient staff to support it.

Sadly, I do not know any spanish.

I will ask that this thread be moved to Site Feedback And Suggestions.

[puertoricanballer]

With Marcelo Machado, a brazilian guard who was the best scorer in the America's World Championship qualifier, recieving an offer from the Cavs, obviously tha NBA eyes are looking to Latin America. Hector Romero from the Venezuelan national team recived an invitation to vets camp. Alejandro "Bimbo" Carmona 2/3 from the puertorican national team received an invitation from the Pistons to come to camp. He has been followed by the Stones for a while. I'm extremely surprise Richard Lugo, center with the venezuelan team haven't received an invitation from any NBA team. He is a solid player with nice defensive skills. The venezuelan team Offense is built around him. Luis Felipe Lopez, who played for the Wolves, is been followed by some NBA teams. At 32, he can't play the way he used to, but he can still can provide some good minutes off the bench. Daniel Santiago, who played for the Bucks last year signed a 2 year contract with Unicaja-Malaga, the same team Fran Vazquez(Magic's draft pick, 10th overall) used to play for. Another player to watch is Ciao Tiager, from Brazil. This guy is almost a 7 footer with a lot of heart.

[puertoricanballer]

Thinking about the latinos history on the NBA, my mind went back to Rolando Blackman. I don't really remember any other latin before him . If you do, please post his/their name(s) here. Also think of other prominent players that have latin heritage ( Marc Jackson, former Knicks PG, his mother is from Dominican Republic; Carmelo Anthony, his mother is puertorican).

[MotownPride]

lol. I never associated Rolando Blackman with being Latin. I guess the name gives it away though.

[puertoricanballer]

He's from Panama. There are a lot of Panama players with English names. (Mario Butler, Rolando Frazier, Leroy Jackson, Michael Hicks, etc). What about Marc Jackson? Patrick Ewing, From Jamaica? Tim Duncan, From the US Virgin Islands? Alfred "Butch" Lee, a puertorican NBA player from the 1970's? I'm sure there are more out there.

[max]

Puertoricanballer - Whats you take on why PePe Sanchez never made it in the NBA?

[puertoricanballer]

I followed Sanchez carrer with the Argentina National Team and he played very well in international tournaments. I think he couldn't either adjust to being a reserve player and lost his motivation or he just simple didn't have the skills to compete at this level. He's now playing for the Unicaja-Malaga (along with Daniel Santiago, who played for the Bucks last season) on the Spain's ACB league.

[puertoricanballer]

First was Fran Vazquez dishing the Orlando Magic for a Spanish ball club and a ton of euros and now the Uruguay's Esteban Batista is "studying an offer from another Spanish club. Is the NBA losing his attraction among top Latin players or is everything about money? Obviously they aren't attracted by the name alone any longer. How it is posible that this Spanish teams can compete, sometimes sucessfully, with the NBA when it comes to attract new promissing talent?

[buddahfan]

in the NBA. Paul Gasol Grizzlies is from Barcelona Spain. I think he is the best Spanish player in the NBA today. We also have Albert Miralles Forward-Center for the Celtics from Barcelona Spain and Raul Lopez Utah guard is also from Spain.