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But since its inception in 1946, the NBA has only had three native Mexican players. The most notable was Eduardo Najera, who averaged 4.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in 619 games for Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and New Jersey Nets. Horacio Llamas played in 28 games and Gustavo Ayon played in 135 games. “Najera was before my time, but I’m fully aware of who he was and what he was able to do,” Jaquez said.
Here’s what Gustavo Ayon said in an interview for AS: “I felt an immense joy that I cannot explain to you with words [when I signed in the NBA]. You have to feel it. I said ‘wow, I achieved what I dreamed of all my life’. The NBA is wonderful. Four teams in three years. But I didn’t want to tour the NBA from team to team. Maybe you play with one team and you don’t play with another. It was an uncertainty. An emotional and sports instability. I didn’t want that. I could’ve been in the NBA for 15 years but what I wanted was to play basketball. I had to be taken off the plane once because of a trade.
Mexican center Gustavo Ayon decided to end his playing career at 37 and will have a farewell game tomorrow in Guadalajara. Ayon played 138 NBA games suiting up for Bucks, Pelicans, Magic and Hawks before going on a strong European career mostly with Real Madrid, winning 2 Euroleague championships and a FIBA Intercontinental Cup alongside 9 domestic titles.
Gustavo Ayon penned a one-year contract with Zenit Saint-Petersburg, the Russian team announced on Friday. The 34-year-old big is set for his sixth EuroLeague campaign. Ayon was with Real Madrid since 2014, but was let go in the beginning of the summer transfer period. He competed in EuroLeague with the Whites and will remain part of Europe’s premier competition with Zenit.
Mavs interested in Gustavo Ayon?
Gustavo Ayón is set to return to the NBA after his stint in EuroLeague with Real Madrid and his release from the club. Dallas Mavericks is the most likely destination for the Mexican big man, although there is also interest from Los Angeles Clippers, according to reports by ESPN’s Fernando Tirado.
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The Mexican big man hopes to return to the NBA where he has played 134 games (4.7ppg and 4.4rpg) from 2011 to 2014. “I don’t know if it is a farewell. Today I don’t have any offer. I want to go back to the NBA. It is a personal desire” Ayon told AS.
Real Madrid, has reached an agreement with Walter Tavares, 25-year old 2.20m center, for the next three years. His arrival is due to the fact that Kuzmic will miss the entire season due to a torn ligament in his left knee. Gustavo Ayon’s recent injury also plays a big role in the signing as it will keep him out of the courts for four months.
Gustavo Ayon will continue wearing the jersey of Real Madrid. The “Blancos” officially announced that they reached an agreement fora three-year contract extension with the Mexican forward/center.
Julian Felipo: According to market sources, @Gustavo Ayon is very close to @FBBasketbol mundodeportivo.com/baloncesto/eur… https://t.co/GGgwNfGlav
As both the biggest sports newspapers of Madrid, “Marca” and “As”, report, Gustavo Ayon and Real Madrid have a deal which will keep the Mexican center in the team for the next three years.
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Orazio Cauchi: Gustavo Ayon has received a €2 millions offer from CSKA Moscow, a source told @Sportando
According to Spanish website Encestando, Gustavo Ayon is thinking about his future in the last few weeks. Ayon is on an expiring contract with Real Madrid and will be a free-agent soon. The negotiations with Real for a new contract hasn't gained steam so far and Ayon is thinking about a possible return to the NBA. One of his children still lives in United States and Ayon wants to spend more time with him. Also next season the new salary cap will start and Ayon could have the possibility of making much money in NBA.
Luis Scola (Argentina), who led the tournament averaging 21.1 points, along with 10.1 rebounds per game (2nd best in the tournament), was named Most Valuable Player of the Championship, presented by Tissot. Scola headlined the All-Star Five which also consisted of Heissler Guillent (Venezuela), Andrew Wiggins (Canada), Andres Nocioni (Argentina) and Gustavo Ayon (Mexico).
Chris Vivlamore: For those capologists, Hawks renounced rights to DeMarre Carroll, Pero Antic, Elton Brand, John Jenkins and Gustavo Ayon.
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