Horacio Llamas made NBA history in 1996 when he became the first Mexican-born player to 1) don an NBA jersey and 2) play actual minutes on the floor. He accomplished those feats in Phoenix, where the United States' southern neighbor has an incredible presence. That combination of man and team helped make Llamas a legend not just in the basketball history books, but in the collective eyes and mind of his home country.
Suns.com's Matt Petersen caught up with Llamas nearly 20 years after his NBA debut. The former NBA big man spoke at length about his memories with former NBA greats, the combined weight and support of a country watching his every move, and the obstacles he overcame in reaching his dream.
On returning to the state where he played college and professional basketball...
Almost every year I come back to Phoenix. I have a lot of friends and friends that are considered my family, too. I lived in Arizona for 10 years. It was like my second home.
To be recognized and invited to this night, for Latino night, is a privilege for me. I’m very happy that they thought about me to come and be around the people that are always supporting the Suns. Not just me when I was there, but the people that were always supporting the Suns.
I remember when I was in JUCO [playing at Pima Community College], we would watch the Suns. I watched the Suns in 1993 against Chicago. From there, I started growing into a Suns fan. Then I came to Grand Canyon [University], and there it was always Suns, Suns, Suns. Before I played here, I was a Sun. Now people ask me, ‘Are they still your team even though they’re not doing that well?’ They will always be my team and I’m always going to hope they do well.
On the initial reaction to publicly declaring his NBA dream...
When I was 17 or 18, I got interviewed in Mexico by a basketball magazine. They asked me what were my dreams, my goals. I told them that I wanted to play in the NBA. Everybody that played basketball, they were telling me, ‘Don’t say that. People are going to think you’re crazy.’
I wasn’t just talking off. I was just saying the truth. Those were my feelings. Nobody thought that door was going to be open ever. Maybe sometimes you start to believe that if everyone is telling you, ‘No, no no, don’t do it. Don’t’ even think about it.’ But I just kept doing it.
On breaking into the NBA and playing with/against with basketball legends...
My idols were [Charles] Barkley and [Hakeem] Olajuwon. The summer [of 1996], I got to play with Barkley in the pickup games here at the arena. He helped me out every time we played together. After we finished playing, I was rooting for him and he was rooting for me. He was like my idol.
I went to practice to Houston with Olajuwon. He invited me to his house. Once your idols do that for you, you put them on a higher pedestal. Then you think you’re dreaming.
Danny Ainge put me in the starting five against both of them [that season]. In the end, they gave me the player of the game. I don’t know if it was [really] me, but they gave it to me. It was a very, very happy memory.
More Llamas
Through the Years
Horacio Llamas, El Primero
Los Suns Night, Powered by APS
On representing his country during his basketball career...
You don’t realize in the beginning. A lot of athletes represent themselves and their families. After a while, I had to realize that there was a whole country behind me, watching me, supporting me, enjoying every single thing that I was doing. It was a big responsibility to be here.
My last year at Grand Canyon, that was when everything really started. Everyone was bringing attention to Grand Canyon, to Phoenix, to the Suns. It was pretty exciting that you were not playing just for you.
On playing with his Suns teammates...
It was a lot of fun playing with Kevin Johnson, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Danny Manning. All those guys helped me a lot. Mark Bryant and Hot Rod Williams – who just passed away – Cedric Ceballos, all of them, they were pushing me, making jokes, helping me out. I wouldn’t change anything that happened.
On a pair of his Phoenix Suns shorts being displayed in the Hall of Fame...
When I was with the Suns, they sent me the paper that they were going to put in there [with the shorts]. I haven’t seen it. I haven't been there. I always tell people that I’m in the Hall of Fame!