The Denver Nuggets’ Eduardo Najera has created a solid, if unspectacular, career playing basketball in the NBA for the past eight seasons. So why does the Chihuahua-born baller grace Gatorade bottles and get to hang out with one of the richest men in the world, Carlos Slim Domit, even though his on-the-court exploits fall firmly behind national pastimes soccer and baseball? The answer is that everyone loves a success story—even one that doesn’t actually have many successes to its name. Najera is only the second Mexican to make it to the NBA, and more importantly, stay.

“His success is based on effort and perseverance,” said Najera’s manager, Roberto Gonzalez, who was a teammate of Magic Johnson’s at Michigan State University and later played professionally in Mexico.

“Eduardo has all those traits. And then he’s got great intangibles because they can’t measure his heart. This is a sport that’s not a major sport in Mexico, and at the same time, they have respect for him because he’s done something that’s never been done before.”

And it’s paved the way for Najera to become a sponsor machine: His other sponsors include Wonder Bread, Adidas and Corona. “Being in the NBA isn’t easy,” said Juan Pablo Garcia, president of Canels Chewing Gum, the leading chewing gum and candy manufacturer in Mexico and a friend of Najera’s. “But he’s kept his feet on the ground and been an example for all Mexicans.”

Man, he gets to hang out with the most important man in Mexico and the guy who owns the chicles company? Life’s good for basically Matt Barnes’ Mexican, union equivalent.

Najera gives Nuggets rare south-of-the-border flavor [LA Times]
Image [LA Times]