Mexico men's national basketball team

History

Until the late 1960s, team Mexico was a major force at the world stage. The team won the bronze medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics, finished 4th at the 1948 event and 5th in 1968. Mexico won the Pan American Games silver medal in Winnipeg 1967 led by Captain Carlos Quintanar with players like Arturo Guerrero and Manuel Raga.

At the FIBA Americas Championship 2009 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mexico finished 7th, ahead of Panama, Venezuela and the United States Virgin Islands.

On individual performances, Gustavo Ayon finished among the tournament's top performers in steals (3rd), blocks (3rd) and minutes per game (9th).

Both Eduardo Nájera and Earl Watson expressed their interest in representing Mexico internationally. However, neither received permission by their NBA teams to participate at the FIBA Americas Championship 2009 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Mexico Beats Team USA

On 29 October 2011, Mexico defeated Team USA 71–55. This 16 point victory took place during the 2011 Pan Am Games.

"La Edad de Oro" (since 2013)

Mexico took part in the FIBA Americas Championship 2013 to replace Panama, who were disqualified. To the surprise of many they beat hosts Venezuela in their opening game, and advanced to the second round with wins over Paraguay and the Dominican Republic. They later finished top of the eight-team second round group and a semi-final win over heavy favourites Argentina saw them through to the final.

On 11 September 2013, they beat Puerto Rico 91–83 in the gold medal game to win the FIBA Americas Championship. Inside player Gustavo Ayón was voted as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

2014 Basketball World Cup

The surprising gold medal at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship secured Mexico a spot at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. This marked the first qualification to the Basketball World Cup in 40 years.

At the 2014 FIBA World Cup, the Mexicans won two of their five preliminary round games against Korea and Angola which earned them a playoff spot for the first time in their history. They would, however, come unstuck against eventual champions USA.

Especially noteworthy was Mexico’s 3 point field goal percentage, which was one of the highest among all the teams at the event.

2015 FIBA Americas Championship

Due to Mexico's strong performances of late, the country gained the right to host the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.

Mexico Defeats Team USA Again

On 28 June 2018, Mexico defeated Team USA 78–70 during the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers. Mexico was led by Gustavo Ayon and Juan Toscano-Anderson. Team USA was led by Alex Caruso, David Stockton, and coached by Jeff Van Gundy.

On 19 November 2021, Mexico defeated Team USA 97–88 during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers. Mexico was led by Orlando Méndez-Valdez (who was also part of Mexico's victory over Team USA in 2018) and Team USA was led by Isaiah Thomas and Luke Kornet.

On 2 September 2022, Mexico defeated Team USA 73–67 during the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup in Recife, Brazil. Mexico was led by Paul Stoll and Fabian Jaimes. Team USA was led by Jodie Meeks, Patrick McCaw, Frank Mason III, and Norris Cole.

On 16 August 2023, Team Mexico defeated the Kansas State University Wildcats 83–81 in an exhibition game in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Kansas State made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament in the 2022–23 season.

Honours

Worldwide

• FIBA World Cup

  • 8th place: 1967

• Olympic Games

  • Third place: 1936

Continental

• FIBA AmeriCup

  • Champions (1): 2013
  • Third place: 2017

• Pan American Games

  • Runners-up (3): 1967, 1991, 2011
  • Third place: 1983

Regional

• FIBA Centrobasket

  • Champions (3): 1965, 1975, 2014
  • Runners-up (4): 1973, 1991, 2001, 2016
  • Third place: 1987, 2003

• FIBA COCABA Championship

  • Champions (4): 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013

• Central American and Caribbean Games

  • Champions (8): 1926, 1930, 1935, 1938, 1946, 1950, 1954, 1990
  • Runners-up (3): 1966, 2010, 2023
  • Third place: 1962, 1974, 1978, 1982, 2002

FIBA honours summary

Competitive record

Olympic Games

FIBA World Olympic Qualifying

FIBA World Cup

NOTE: In June 2018, Mexico beat Team USA 78–70 in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification (Americas).

NOTE: In November 2021, Mexico beat Team USA 97-88 in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification (Americas). Team USA featured former NBA All-Star Isaiah Thomas and Luke Kornet

FIBA AmeriCup

Pan American Games

• 1951 – 8th place
• 1955 – 4th place
• 1959 – 4th place
• 1963 – 7th place
• 1967 – Silver [[Image:Med 2.png]] (Mexico finished second only to Team USA. Team Mexico featured one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors: Manuel Raga)
• 1971 – 4th place
• 1975 – 4th place
• 1979 – 8th place
• 1983 – Bronze [[Image:Med 3.png]] (This competition was memorable for Mexico taking a 20–4 lead against a Team USA squadron that featured Michael Jordan, Chris Mullin, Sam Perkins, Michael Cage, Ed Pinckney, Mark Price, and Wayman Tisdale. Team USA later came back for an 11-point win: 74–63. Team USA won the gold, Brazil won the silver, and Mexico beat Canada for the bronze medal.)
• 1987 – 4th place
• 1991 – Silver [[Image:Med 2.png]] (Mexico finished ahead of a Team USA squadron that featured Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, Thomas Hill, Walt Williams, Clarence Weatherspoon, Tracey Murray, Jimmy Jackson, Terry Dehere, Adam Keefe, Eric Montross, and Tony Bennett. Puerto Rico won the gold, Mexico won the silver, and Team USA won the bronze medal.)
• 1995 – 5th place
• 2003 – 5th place
• 2011 – Silver [[Image:Med 2.png]] (Mexico beat Team USA 71–55 in their semifinal game.)
• 2015 – 8th place
• 2019 – 7th place
• 2023 – 4th place

FIBA Centrobasket

• 1965 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]] (Team Mexico featured one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors: Manuel Raga)
• 1967 – 4th place
• 1973 - Silver [[Image:Med 2.png]]
• 1975 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 1987 – Bronze [[Image:Med 3.png]]
• 1989 – 4th place
• 1991 – Silver [[Image:Med 2.png]]
• 1997 – 4th place
• 2001 – Silver [[Image:Med 2.png]]
• 2003 – Bronze [[Image:Med 3.png]]
• 2004 – 4th place
• 2006 – 4th place
• 2008 – 5th place
• 2010 – 6th place
• 2014 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 2016 – Silver [[Image:Med 2.png]]

FIBA COCABA Championship

• 2006 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 2007 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 2009 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 2013 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 2015 – 4th place

Central American and Caribbean Games

• 1926 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 1930 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 1935 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 1938 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 1946 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 1950 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 1954 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 1962 – Bronze [[Image:Med 3.png]]
• 1966 – Silver [[Image:Med 2.png]]
• 1970 – 4th place
• 1974 – Bronze [[Image:Med 3.png]]
• 1978 – Bronze [[Image:Med 3.png]]
• 1982 – Bronze [[Image:Med 3.png]]
• 1986 – 5th place
• 1990 – Champions [[Image:Med 1.png]]
• 1998 – 10th place
• 2002 – Bronze [[Image:Med 3.png]]
• 2006 – 5th place
• 2010 – Silver [[Image:Med 2.png]]
• 2014 – 5th place
• 2018 – 5th place
• 2023 – Silver [[Image:Med 2.png]]

Team

Current roster

The roster for the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup qualification.

• MEX Omar Quintero
• MEX Gustavo Quintero
• USA Kaleb Canales
• SPA Xavi Monferrer
• (C) Team captain
• Club – describes last club before the tournament
• Age – describes age on 25 August 2023

Previous squads

;Olympics:

• 1936 Olympics squad
• 1948 Olympics squad
• 1952 Olympics squad
• 1960 Olympics squad
• 1964 Olympics squad
• 1968 Olympics squad
• 1976 Olympics squad ;FIBA AmeriCup:
• 1980 Tournament of the Americas squad
• 1984 Tournament of the Americas squad
• 1988 Tournament of the Americas squad
• 1989 Tournament of the Americas squad
• 1992 Tournament of the Americas squad
• 1993 Tournament of the Americas squad
• 1997 Tournament of the Americas squad
• 2001 Tournament of the Americas squad
• 2003 Tournament of the Americas squad
• 2005 FIBA Americas Championship squad
• 2007 FIBA Americas Championship squad
• 2009 FIBA Americas Championship squad
• 2013 FIBA Americas Championship squad
• 2015 FIBA Americas Championship squad
• 2017 FIBA AmeriCup squad
• 2022 FIBA AmeriCup squad ;FIBA World Cup:
• 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup squad
• 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup squad

Head coach position

• Augustin Garcia (1959)
• Enrique "Kiki" Romero (1960)
• Pedro Barba Ramos (1963)
• Agustin Garcia Arreola (1964)
• USA Lester Lane (1967–1968)
• Pedro Barba Ramos (1974)
• MEX Carlos Bru (1976)
• ARG Guillermo Vecchio (2003)
• USA Nolan Richardson (2007)
• ARG Silvio Jose Santander (2008)
• USA Nolan Richardson (2009)
• MEX Arturo Guerrero (2009)
• ESP Josep Claros (2010–2011)
• ESP Sergio Valdeolmillos (2011)
• ESP Josep Claros (2012)
• MEX Arturo Guerrero (2013)
• ESP Sergio Valdeolmillos (2013–2014)
• USA Bill Cartwright (2014–2015)
• PUR Eddie Casiano (2015)
• ESP Sergio Valdeolmillos (2015–2017)
• ESP Ramón Díaz Sánchez (2018)
• ESP Iván Déniz (2018–2019)
• ESP Sergio Valdeolmillos (2020–2021)
• MEX Omar Quintero (2021–present)

Kit

Manufacturer

2015–2021: Under Armour

2022–present: Titan Sports

References

References

1. (6 September 2009). "FIBA.com: 2009 FIBA Americas Championship for Men". Puertorico2009.fiba.com.
2. "FIBA.com: 2009 FIBA Americas Championship for Men Top players". Puertorico2009.fiba.com.
3. (13 June 2014). "MEX – Najera reports to Mexican national team". Fiba.com.
4. (3 August 2009). "HoopsHype – Earl Watson: "I signed with the Pacers because they want to win now"". Blogs.hoopshype.com.
5. "FIBA.com: 2009 FIBA Americas Championship for Men Team profile". Puertorico2009.fiba.com.
6. "USA Basketball: Mexico Ends USA's Pan American Games Gold Medal Quest 71–55".
7. (12 September 2013). "Spain 2014-bound Mexico are 2013 Americas champions!". [[FIBA]].
8. "FIBA Archive; Mexico". [[FIBA]].
9. "TEAM STATISTICS; TEAM LEADERS". [[FIBA]].
10. "Mexico shocks USA Basketball in World Cup qualifying round". [[National Basketball Association]].
11. (29 November 2021). "USA Basketball Falls in World Cup Qualifier to Mexico, 97–88".
12. "Mexico v USA boxscore – FIBA AmeriCup 2022 – 2 September".
13. "Kansas State basketball stumbles down the stretch in 83-81 exhibition loss to Mexico".
14. "Kansas State Wildcats 2022-23 Postseason NCAAM Schedule".
15. "Mexico shocks USA Basketball in World Cup qualifying round". [[National Basketball Association]].
16. "USA upset by Mexico in World Cup qualifying match {{!}} NBA.com".
17. (6 August 1967). "USA Basketball". USA Basketball.
18. "USA Basketball". USA Basketball.
19. "USA Basketball". USA Basketball.
20. (29 October 2011). "Mexico Ends USA's Pan American Games Gold Medal Quest 71–55". USA Basketball.
21. (4 November 2023). "Second Consecutive Gold for Argentina in Basketball at the Pan American Games". Panam Sports.
22. "Latinbasket – Central American Championships '01". Latinbasket.com.
23. "LATINBASKET – 5th Tournament of the Americas (Copa America) 2005 Basketball, Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings, Pro Basketball". Latinbasket.com.
24. "LATINBASKET – COCABA – Centro America Championships Basketball, Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings, Pro Basketball". Latinbasket.com.
25. "COCABA-Championships Basketball, Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings". Latinbasket.
26. (22 August 2023). "La Selección Mexicana de baloncesto define la lista para la Copa del Mundo FIBA 2023".
27. (25 August 2023). "Team roster: Mexico". FIBA.
28. (15 May 2015). "Mexico Gone Rogue-er?". [[FIBA]].
29. (25 September 2014). "Former three-time NBA champion Bill Cartwright appointed Mexico coach". [[FIBA]].
30. (13 March 2015). "Halcones Rojos boss Casiano takes helm of Mexico". [[FIBA]].