Gustavo Ayón: "I am not coming to Mexico to retire"

He returns to Mexico 11 years later.

He has already played in the NBA and shone in Europe

.

But his return to the land where he was born, he says, is not to retire.

, in the National Professional Basketball League (LNBP), in what will be a parenthesis within his career, since the plan is to return to the Old Continent when he appears a new opportunity.

Welcome to Astros de Jalisco, welcome to your new home, @AyonGustavo!

🔥 # We shine from Jalisco🏀⛹🏽‍♂️☄️ pic.twitter.com/RiQBSDxo0O

- Astros de Jalisco (@AstrosJalisco) September 29, 2020

“The message is one of happiness, responsibility, commitment, passion, to create a sense of belonging with the Astros fans.

We have a perfect setting to achieve that connection with the team, staff, management, with the fans, with the city, with fans from other states who will surely be following us.

We can do great things to explode our basketball 100 percent.

The League has worked very well, there is a reason why people are so important at a business level in our basketball.

I have heard that it is my retirement, but it is not my retirement: I come to play basketball at 100 percent, in my best physical condition and that is what we will give to the fans of all of Mexico, ”explains the third Mexican basketball player who stepped on the floor. of the NBA.

“I go back to where I started 11 years later and I feel very proud that the doors of returning to Mexico are open for me.

The League has advanced a lot in sports aspects, aspects of diffusion.

If my arrival here causes the basketball of our country to be seen more, I am proud and flattered.

My goal is to continue at the highest level, if it is here, I will be here, if opportunities arise in Europe it will also be valued and decisions will be made.

Today this is what I have, the opportunity that is on the table and I take it, "says" El Titán de Nayarit. "

During his presentation, both

It is not even certain that the season will end in Mexico, because if an offer from Europe appears, the doors are open to take it.

Thank you @AstrosJalisco for the opportunity to return to Mexican basketball.

To the governor @EnriqueAlfaroR for the welcome, Salvador Quirarte for his work to promote sport 🇲🇽 and @servamo for his support. To my colleagues, staff, fans and the media, for the reception🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/piwyw1exx5

- Gustavo Ayon (@AyonGustavo) September 30, 2020

“There is my passion, my courage and my love for this sport, which I will exploit 100 percent with Astros.

It can be one day, two days or it can be the whole season, it does not depend on me but on the opportunities that arise.

For now I am here, I will leave 100 percent in this institution and it is all I can do.

My career has not been a coincidence and my work is the one that supports me in all situations, ”says Gustavo Ayón.

In the NBA he played for New Orleans, Milwaukee, Orlando and Atlanta.

, where he spent five seasons.

In 2019 he moved to the Russian Zenit of Saint Petersburg and after his recent departure, the possibility of him arriving at Fenerbahce in Turkey was rumored, something that could not materialize, according to the Mexican basketball player himself.

“There were conversations, but very light, it was not something serious.

.

It was had a few years ago, but in this pandemic it has not been possible to speak, I believe because of the difficult situation that all the teams and all the people around the world are going through, ”explains the new player of the Astros de Jalisco.

Now, he has to make the commitment to be the main figure of the LNBP in Mexico

and take his new team to the top.

"I have that responsibility not because I am the player I am today.

I have always carried that responsibility with me, I remember March 23, 2009 when I went to Spain the first time, a friend made me the comment that he stopped being Gustavo Ayón to bear the name of Mexico.

It is a commitment that I have always rooted, with good and bad moments, but always with the commitment of Mexico, that you carry in you the representation of 125 million people, with many children who want to be like you or better than you, "he says.

“It is a commitment that I like to have and if now the commitment is to be champions

, we must fight to be champions.

We need the commitment of all the players, management, fans when this opens and that we have a sense of belonging on this field.

Let them know that we play together in Astros, that the pressure is on the rival and make this fun for everyone, the most important thing is to have fun.

With pressure or without pressure in the end your work will give you what you deserve, that is my culture and my everyday gene ”, he asserts.

WILLING TO BE WITH SELECTION

On the other hand,

, if time permits.

But before thinking about that, he trusts that the conflict between ADEMEBA and FIBA ​​can be solved, so that the national team can once again participate in international activity, after the suspension received at the beginning of the year.

“The theme of the Selection is calendars and dates.

If the dates lend itself to attend, I have always loved attending Selection, whenever I have the possibility in terms of dates.

We have a selection of players who are shining at the international level, many young people out there perhaps in the shadows, but who have a lot of talent, ”says Gustavo Ayón.

“Next year there is the Pre-Olympic, if things improve.

and the International Federation improve in order to participate.

It would be very important for our basketball to even bring in young players so that they have an international touch.

We are as we are now, we hope that this situation can be solved soon and it does not have any problem so that the National Teams can participate at an international level.

We want to continue to show that in Mexico there is a lot of talent, quality players and that we are a basketball-loving country, ”adds the Mexican basketball player.

Gustavo Ayón, leader of the so-called “12 Warriors” who returned to Mexico

after many years to a basketball World Cup, will meet again at the Astros de Jalisco with the coach of that Mexican National Team, the Spanish Sergio Valdeolmillos, as well as some of his teammates on that team: Héctor Hernández, Marco Ramos and Israel Gutiérrez.

“I am very happy to live with them again in our work environment and remember those great stories, anecdotes and feats that we had in Selection.

They were years that marked the history of our basketball,

, talk, discuss, do things to improve my colleagues or myself.

This is like a family and even in the family the brothers fight.

We have had everything, but the important thing is that he continues that affection and respect for all those involved here.

We are going to implement it 100 percent, my commitment to colleagues will notice it, I will try to help Sergio 100 percent and let him help me.

That will be the most important thing we will do in this club ”, Gustavo Ayón concludes.