MEX - Dogged Najera makes Chihuahua his pet project

CHIHUAHUA (NBA) - Mexico center Eduardo Najera is to organise his third All-Star Game featuring NBA players in Chihuahua city to help the player's foundation and the state government.

Najera and Chihuahua state mayor Jose Reyes Baeza announced the event will take place on August 4 at Manuel Bernardo Aguirre gymnasium.

Six of Najera's Denver Nuggets team-mates have confirmed their participation - Steve Blake, Marcus Camby, JR Smith, DerMarr Johnson, Kenyon Martin and Jamaal Sampson.

Other NBA players who will feature next month include Josh Smith (Atlanta Hawks), Earl Watson (Seattle Supersonics), Jason Richardson (Charlotte Bobcats) and Matt Barnes (Golden State Warriors).

Najera is also doing his best to convince Allen Iverson to play, but that could be costly.

"We want Iverson to come, but I must confess it is quite expensive to bring him here," said Najera.

"He demands a different treatment, with luxury, but we'll see... I think our friends in the state government will have to make the decision now."

The profits made at the event will be split equally between the Eduardo Najera Foundation for young basketball players and the System for the Integral Development of the Family of Chihuahua state.

Mayor Reyes Baeza is grateful for Najera's help and loyalty towards the Chihuahua region.

He said: "He is always available to organise different events to help childhood and Chihuahua-born sportsmen. We are proud of having such an important figure like him in our state.

"Our goal is to continue to wake up the basketball spirit in children."

Matias Greco
FIBA