NBA planning for first G League team in Mexico City

The NBA has announced its plans for Capitanes joining the G League in Mexico City, making it the first G League team located outside the United States or Canada.

The NBA has long wanted to plant roots in Mexico, as evidenced by its routine trips to Mexico City with southwest teams like the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs for regular season contests. According to multiple reports Thursday night, the league has taken another major step toward doing so with the G League.

As first reported by The Athletic‘s Shams Charania, the NBA will launch a G League franchise in Mexico City, the first such team outside the United States without an NBA affiliate. AP writer Tim Reynolds reported it will actually be a team from the Mexican basketball league, while the Dallas Morning News‘ Brad Townsend confirmed that team will be Capitanes.

The NBA confirmed that starting in 2020-21, Capitanes will become the G League’s 29th team. This will also be the first developmental team outside the U.S. and Canada.

According to the league, Capitanes will play its home games at the Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera in Mexico City. There are tons of logistical questions about security when it comes to crossing the border, but it also makes sense geographically with three minor league teams in Texas and another in northern Arizona.

The initial terms are that Capitanes, established in 2016 as part of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional, will play in the G League for five years. It will operate as an independent team, which means it will have no NBA affiliate.

“Bringing an NBA G League team to Mexico City is a historic milestone for the NBA which demonstrates our commitment to basketball fans in Mexico and across Latin America,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a statement. “As the first G League franchise based outside of the U.S. and Canada, we look forward to welcoming Capitanes to the NBA family.”

“The NBA G League has long been focused on growing the game in Latin America and internationally,” added G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim. “Having a team in Mexico City is an important step in realizing that vision. I’m proud to welcome Capitanes to the G League and look forward to watching the team play at Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera next season.”

The schedule for the 2020-21 G League season is expected to be released in August 2020, but for now, this is a huge step forward for the league’s continued global expansion. In the event of NBA expansion, Mexico City can now be added to the list of prospective destinations.

“Capitanes is honored to be the NBA G League’s 29th team and first from Mexico,” said Gilberto Hernández, co-owner of Capitanes. “This is a landmark moment not only for our organization, but for the game of basketball and our passionate fans in Mexico. We are thrilled to be a part of the NBA family and can’t wait to begin competing in the G League next season.”