All summer long, NBA Game Time's celebrating the global reach of the game we love. Over the course of 90 days - leading up to the 2014 Global Games in October - get to know more about the international faces of the NBA. Day 6 brings…
Gustavo Ayón (PF, Atlanta Hawks), Mexico
Height: 2.08 m, 6-foot-10 | Weight: 113 kg, 250 pounds | Born: 1 April, 1985
When Gustavo Ayón left home to attend college, he saw his father cry for the first time.
"It was only one tear, but for me it was crying. It gave me the strength to keep fighting for the NBA," he said to the Meridiano Newspaper in December 2011.
But in order to make it, the Mexican star had to leave behind his native Zapotán, Nayarit, a rural town with a population of about one thousand. After leading Mexico's National Team to its first FIBA Americas championship in 2013, Ayón came into the 2013-14 season, his first with the Hawks, with high hopes. But a right shoulder injury kept him off the court to start the year. He came back for 26 games, with his season culminating in a big double-double against Toronto. He then re-injured his shoulder after six minutes of play against the Pacers.
His impact may have been limited last season, but when healthy, Ayón provided exactly what the Hawks needed: a rebound warrior who could battle it out in the paint.
Ayón's a free agent this summer, and fighting to move past the injury that's kept him from making the leap he looked bound for last summer.
Key Stats
2013-14 Season: PTS: 4.3 | REB: 4.8 | AST: 1.1 | BLK 0.4
Season Highlight: Ayón had a career-high 18 points and a season-high 10 rebounds on 12 February 2014 against the Toronto Raptors
Awards
* Ayón was named MVP of the 2013 FIBA Americas tournament after leading Mexico to victory in the gold medal game against Puerto Rico
5 Things To Know
1. He played two seasons (2009-11) in the ACB League with Fuenlabrada in Madrid, Spain's top division, which is widely regarded as the best domestic league outside of the NBA.
2. According to an interview Ayón gave Gente Magazine, classmates used to bully him for being tall, so he'd hide or crouch down to avoid being seen
3. He thought he was going to have a career in communications or volleyball
4. He started playing basketball when he was 17
5. His mother, a school teacher, taught all four of her kids in the town's elementary school. (Gustavo is the youngest)
Check out Ayon's photos and video in the LEAGUE section of the NBA Game Time app.
Previous: Omer Asik (Houston Rockets, Turkey) | Next Up: JJ Barea (Minnesota Timberwolves, Puerto Rico)