MEX/USA - Gutierrez gets Nets chance

NEW YORK (NBA/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Jorge Gutierrez has had to be patient this year.

Mexico's 2013 FIBA Americas Championship-winning point guard has had to persevere in practice, and the D-League, in the hope that he would eventually receive an offer to play in the NBA.

Having to wait was nothing new for Gutierrez because despite a terrific career in American college basketball with the California Golden Bears, one that saw him earn the distinction as Pac-12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after his senior season, no NBA team drafted him.

The Chihuahua-born Gutierrez instead entered the D-League and had a strong year before helping Mexico capture their first FIBA Americas Championship title in Caracas.

He returned to America and played for Brooklyn in the pre-season but was the last cut from the team.

On Thursday, the Nets signed Gutierrez to a 10-day contract.

Having appeared in 35 games (all starts) this season and averaged 13.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 32.7 minutes per game, Gutierrez will now have an opportunity to play with a Nets side that is coached by Jason Kidd, one of the best point guards ever to play in the NBA.

Kidd also played college basketball at California.

What are the Nets thinking about when it comes to the 25-year-old Gutierrez?

Ryan Blake, the NBA's senior director of scouting, spoke to the D-League's website about Gutierrez.

Blake remembered a conversation that he had had with Billy King, the Nets general manager.

"Here's what King told me," said Blake.

"Gutierrez has a lot of point guard skills. He plays great defense.

"But he really did a good job of running a team (in the pre-season) no matter who was on the floor and that's what you expect from an NBA point guard."

Blake likes Gutierrez's chances of remaining with the Nets.

"The biggest thing that I think that is going to really help him stick with the team is his improvement from his outside shooting which is now at 38%," he said

The contract he has signed, however, will boost his confidence.

He will be with Mexico's national team in several months when it plays at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup later this year.

FIBA