
New York: On Saturday evening in Cleveland, Ohio, the NBA All Star Weekend was filled with the best basketball talents from across the world. Participants in the skills challenge included stars such as Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo, Cleveland Cavaliers Darius Garland along with Toronto Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes. Minnesota Timberwolves Karl Anthony Towns became the first center ever to win the 3-point shooting contest.
New York’s very own, born, and raised in Brooklyn, the high-flying 23 year old, Knicks Obi Toppin won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
One slam dunk contest participant who stole the show with his fresh Golden State Warriors-Mexico flag mixed uniform was Juan Toscano-Anderson. With the matching Mexican flag resemblance sneakers, Warriors guard Toscano-Anderson is averaging 4.5 points per game on 49 % shooting from the field. In his thrid year in the NBA, Anderson has played in 56 games this regular season, adding versatility on both sides of the court for Golden State.
In 2015, Anderson began his professional career in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) playing for the Soles de Mexicali.
The charismatic, highly talented 28 year old, Toscano-Anderson represents and prides himself in his family roots, the country of Mexico. As of now, Juan Anderson is the only current NBA player from Mexico. Toscano Anderson stated previously:
“Hopefully I can continue to inspire other Mexican kids… hopefully I can be that image that they want to grow up and be like and follow their dreams and somehow get to the NBA. I just want to continue to raise the bar for them.”
Toscano-Anderson was born, and raised in California; however, his family heritage dates back to Michoacan, Mexico. Michoacan is a beautiful city located on the western coastline of Mexico. Juan Toscano-Anderson is a well-known advocate across the NBA in promoting basketball within Mexico by growing the game. In Italy, Toscano-Anderson played in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament representing his country, Mexico.
Juan Toscano-Anderson spoke with the media during All Star Weekend, expressing his thoughts on promoting basketball across Mexico.
“I think it’s big for the NBA for obvious reasons to continue to expand, but it’s also really big for the sport in Mexico. It gives more opportunities; it’s another opportunity for kids to go out and watch the sport and watch professionals play the sport.”
Toscano-Andersons passion for making the NBA and basketball as a whole, a growing trend throughout Mexico is amazing to see.
