It was a short story, but with an unforgettable last image for Horacio Llamas, the Mexican who played alongside Michael Jordan when the legend was with the Washington Wizards And there is an anecdote that marked him for life in which both celebrated a victory.
About the successful documentary The Last Dance which premiered on April 19 on Netflix where His Majesty’s career is narrated, the Mexican shared the memory that will unite them for life.
“My last play in the NBA was a pass from Jordan to triple and win the game”he said to ESPN, although it must be clarified that they were never in an official party as companions.
What is the anecdote of Horacio Llamas with Michael Jordan?
It was in the 2001 preseason when the Mexican received an invitation to the training camp of the Wizards, franchise with which MJ23 returned to the NBA after his second retirement.
“We all see Jordan as someone unreachable, It is the best in the world. He is a very simple person, we would come to training together and he would talk to me, a competitive guy who would help you, “he told us in 2012 to VivaBasquet.
“We played an intersquare and I was on his team, there were eight seconds left and we lost by one or two points. The play was designed for him, was marked by Bryon Russell and I had Christian Laettner; Jordan bounced the ball and they all went over it, When he jumps as if he were going to shoot, he sees me and passes the ball to me, I shoot three and I score. With that we won the game. ”
In addition to receiving the pass of Jordan for the winning basket in that preseason game, Calls he never imagined the kind of congratulations that awaited him.
“I run back to defend and when I cross half the court someone jumps up my back screaming ‘This is the man, that’s why you play with me’ and my surprise is that it was Jordan cheering me on“he talked.
Horacio Llamas was the first Mexican in the NBA
Horacio Llamas arrived in 1996 to play with the Phoenix Suns in the NBA. After two seasons he left and the following four years he ventured into different international leagues, until he received the opportunity to train with Washington.
The Sinaloa-born man said that when he was in the Atlanta Hawks’ training camps, before being signed by Phoenix, they had to play a game against Chicago and although he did not play a minute his only objective was to go to Jordan to greet him.
“It was incredible because the first team I played with was Atlanta and we had to play in Chicago. I did not play, but all he wanted was to come over to him and say hi“he recalled.
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