BUENOS AIRES (Martín Seldes' Brave New World) - Eduardo Najera decided to make the step. From being a respectable NBA player, the Mexican became a D-League coach and could also be part of the Dallas Mavericks management. But, more important than that, Najera will now have time to become the Mexican Basketball ambassador.

The first idea he said in a loud voice was to bring an NBA franchise to Mexico. Only time will decide if that´s something possible.

“My main goal, my dream is to bring an NBA franchise to Mexico,” Najera said. “It could happen in five or 10 years maybe, it´s my hope, my dream, but it´s possible.”

To be honest, I don´t think that’s something that could happen. Mexico will host an NBA pre-season game on 7 October, which is not a minor thing. But for the time being, it´s only that.

Mexico's domestic league will start this week after a long break and that´s something that Mexican Basketball should deal with before even thinking of bringing an NBA team.

Najera will have time to be a coach and work for an NBA team, but we hope that he also has time to share his experience with Mexican players and managers.

As an example, Najera's former Mavericks teammate Steve Nash is still a top player and has decided to help Canada by becoming the national team´s general manager. The benefits of having a two-time MVP of the best league in the world became clear even earlier than expected.

Recently-appointed Canada head coach Jay Triano can now look forward to bringing together 30 of the country's best players when the nation historically struggled to get their basketball top guys in the same room.

That´s something we can expect from Najera. And even more things.

Mexico-born Gustavo Ayon is going into his second NBA season - with the Orlando Magic - and he can definitively use some advice from a 12-season player like Najera.

If Mexico want to play in the FIBA Basketball World Cup - they last played in a FIBA World Championship in 1974 - many things should change.

The last FIBA Americas they played was in 2009 and their result was far from being the best as they placed seventh (same result as in 2007).

The first change should be with the youngsters and, again, according to Ayon, Najera could help.

“He left the doors opened for Mexican players to play in the NBA,” said Ayon. “We hope that he will be able to transmit to young players everything he learned in his career.”

While the youngsters start to believe in themselves, Mexico have to put their efforts in developing a strong national league.

As Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela and Puerto Rico have shown everyone, the national league is where good players learn how to be part of a team. Besides that, good players appear when you have lots of players. And that´s why Mexico needs a respectable and regular national league.

Again, Najera can help there.

I really hope that one day Mexico can have an NBA franchise, but before then, it´s time to do many other things. And I know that Najera can be the beginning to most of those things.

Martín Seldes

FIBA

FIBA’s columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

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