David Villafranca
New York, Oct 20 (EFE).- The Dominican Karl-Anthony Towns, star signing of the ambitious <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/nba-dallas-mavericks-winning-streak-ends-abruptly/" title="NBA: Dallas Mavericks winning streak ends abruptly”>New York Knicks who are asking for a place in the East, leads the Latin delegation for this NBA season in which the Mexican Jaime also stands out Jáquez Jr., the Dominican Al Horford and the Puerto Rican José Alvarado.
51 years have passed since the Knicks, one of the most popular franchises in the NBA, won their last title. The drought since 1973 has been dramatic, but the Big Apple team aspires this year to stand up to the Boston Celtics, current champions, in the East, and return to the top of the league.
The foundations of the project were very clear last year, in which, led by a stellar Jalen Brunson, they shone until injuries got in their way. With half the team in the infirmary, the Knicks fell in the East semifinals against the Indiana Pacers.
To improve their options, the Knicks have moved very boldly this market. First they signed Mikal Bridges, from their neighbors and rivals the Brooklyn Nets, and just a few weeks ago they hit the table again by adding Towns.
28 years old and number one in the 2015 draft, the Dominican is a four-time All-Star and winner of the NBA rookie of the year award. Towns averaged 21.8 points (50.4% on field goals and 41.6% on three-pointers), 8.3 rebounds and 3 assists per game last season with the Wolves, who failed in the West final against the Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks.
Signing one of the most outstanding centers in the league has not been cheap for Tom Thibodeau’s team, who had to send important players such as Julius Randle or Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota.
Their rotation has been somewhat weakened with a limited bench, but the Knicks will have a very promising squad in which, in addition to Brunson and Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and the aforementioned Bridges stand out.
Another Latino with increasing weight in the league is the Mexican Jaime Jáquez Jr., who faces his second season in the NBA after achieving 11.9 points (48.9% on field goals), 3.8 rebounds and 2, 6 assists on average per game in his great campaign as a rookie with the Miami Heat.
The South Florida franchise was an NBA finalist two years ago, but there are more doubts surrounding the project led by Jimmy Butler and its place in an East with very powerful rivals such as the Celtics, the Knicks or Joel’s Philadelphia 76ers Embiid and Paul George.
Opposite a 23-year-old like Jáquez Jr., the Dominican Al Horford, already an NBA legend, continues with the Celtics at 38 years old as a fundamental piece of the Boston team after finally winning their first title last year .
Horford will have extra duties at the start of his 18th NBA season due to the injury of Kristaps Porzingis, who is not expected to return to play with those in green until at least December.
The Puerto Rican José Alvarado in the New Orleans Pelicans, the Dominican Chris Duarte in the Chicago Bulls and the also Dominican Lester Quiñones in the Sixers are other notable names for Latin fans in this new NBA season that is about to begin. EFE
