National Teams in america

[J-Mart]

What Americas NTs are (or could be) benefitted the most by the decades of migration to the US?

It seems to me that many Latin American NTs will soon be full of naturalized Americans with Latin ancestors. That could really change this current rankings we post.

Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico even more now that FIBA allowed us to use puertorrican grandsons.

[JGX]

DR and PR have already benefitted a lot, no?

After those two, the English-speaking Caribbean and Haiti could find a lot of good eligible players. But none of those countries have the organization to convert that into sustained success right now.

[mvblair]

DR and PR have already benefitted a lot, no?

Certainly PR has because the Puerto Rican community in the US is very close. They seem to "maintain their Puerto Ricaness." And it looks like DR will benefit from Charlie Villanueva, whom I think was born in DR, actually. I'm not sure.

After those two, the English-speaking Caribbean and Haiti could find a lot of good eligible players. But none of those countries have the organization to convert that into sustained success right now.

Absolutely Haiti could benefit! Unfortunately, the whole country is a wreck, so there is no hope for any kind of athletic success.

If the immigration process and the embargo were lifted, another country that would clearly benefit is Cuba. Of course, they've got their own problems because they won't even talk to their baseball players who play in Latin American winter leagues.

Lastly, the big country that could benefit the most from populations who have immigrated to the US is Mexico. There are something like 25 million Americans with "Mexican heritage" in the US. I'm sure there are plenty of professional players, NBA players like Earl Watson, who could legitimately play for Team Mexico. I think right now they've got Adam Parada, a guard/forward from California on the NT now.

Of all the teams in the Americas though, I think Mexico is the weirdest. Given their population and the strength of their domestic league, they should have a very competitive national team. They should be up there with Brazil and Puerto Rico, but they never do well at the Tournament of the Americas. It's weird. They should be much better than they are.

[alermac]

Maybe there is a bit too much American influence in those countries to help them at FIBA basketball. Maerica may provide the talented players, but with them it also provides the same problems that kept Team USA from the gold all these years.

[JGX]

Of all the teams in the Americas though, I think Mexico is the weirdest. Given their population and the strength of their domestic league, they should have a very competitive national team. They should be up there with Brazil and Puerto Rico, but they never do well at the Tournament of the Americas. It's weird. They should be much better than they are.

Mexico's sort of a disappointing sporting nation...even in soccer, when you consider that it's the most popular sport in a highly populous nation and has a well-established and wealthy domestic league, they don't produce as much talent as they should, and always seem to be lacking in speed and size, which are of course very important in basketball.

There really aren't many standout Mexican-American athletes either.