The Mexico City Capitanes kicked off their 2022-23 season with a press conference Monday morning, sharing information about their first campaign in the Mexican capital after spending their inaugural season in the NBA’s developmental league based in Forth Worth, Texas. because of the pandemic. all their matches for the 2021-22 season played in opposing arenas.
General manager Nick Lagios, NBA Mexico President Raúl Zárraga and several other members of the Capitanes organization were present to inform the press about some very important news. Among the most important was that the team would have a new home in the modern and spacious CDMX Arena in the north of the metropolis.
“It’s been a challenge to be away from our fans,” said team president Rodrigo Serratos. “We are happy to be back in Mexico City in a higher level venue.”
The wait is over, it’s time for G League basketball in Mexico City! We are ready for some packed games @ArenaCdMexico next season! #WeAreCaptain https://t.co/5VoKIDoARF
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) August 16, 2022
The arena, home of the NBA Mexico Games last held in 2019 and which resumes again this season with a contest between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs in December, will seat a maximum of 8,000 people for the G League contests with sellouts of tickets that will start in September.
While the team only played 20 games due to the pandemic, the Capitanes are scheduled to play a full 50-game schedule in 2022-2023 for Lagios.
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“We were based out of Fort Worth (last season), so this year we’re based in Mexico City,” the Capitanes General Manager explained.
“We will have a house; we’re going to have a practice field, so that’s why we’re going to do the full 50-game season this coming year. We’re going to play as many games as any other G League team this year.”
Perhaps the cornerstone of the NBA’s efforts to raise the profile of the sport in Latin America not only from a viewership perspective, but also from a talent development perspective, Lagios also explained how the club will help showcase Latin America and Mexico in particular.
CAPTAINS RETURN TO CDMX 😎#WeAreCaptain pic.twitter.com/QyUqXiPFJh
– CAPTAINS (@CapitanesCDMX) August 16, 2022
Asked what percentage of the players would be from the Spanish world south of the US, the Capitanes GM replied “most of the roster. We are shooting for eight of the 12 which will always be Latin American players.
“We will always have at least two Mexican players on the roster. We will do something similar to what we did last year. We’re going to try to get some younger Latin American prospects, and then some guys with NBA experience. And by the time our season was over, we were second in the league in calls.”
“We will try to do the same thing next year,” added Lagios.
(PEDRO PARDO/AFP/Getty Images)
The Capitanes’ top executive shared how he previously had to work hard to attract NBA veterans interested in joining the team before the team’s premiere as a G League outfit, but has since seen that disappear and be replaced by enthusiastic interest from such players.
Concerns about distance from other G League teams were lessened given the availability of direct flights to Mexico City from other teams in the Western Conference of the developmental league that often have less travel time than other G League cities without direct flights .
A 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍 challenge awaits us 🏀
Who is ready for this challenge? 😎#WeAreCaptain pic.twitter.com/YXVUpVqqX0
– CAPTAINS (@CapitanesCDMX) August 16, 2022
Similar concerns about cultural and language barriers for non-Latin American players were also played down by Lagios, who noted that he has lived in the area since the end of their last season seven months ago.
“I loved it,” he shared, despite still not knowing Spanish. “Where the players will live is Polanco,” he added, referring to one of the city’s wealthiest areas. “They’re going to love it.”
“Actually, I thought some players would be a bit unsure about coming to Mexico City… but I’m seeing it as a massive positive (that) a lot of players want to play in Mexico City, which is great,” smiled Lagios. “It makes my job a little easier.”
Official Notification Season 2022 – 23
All the details here ➡️ https://t.co/Un0R1Da2kf#WeAreCaptain pic.twitter.com/FwXaMPWPsF– CAPTAINS (@CapitanesCDMX) August 16, 2022
