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Report: Gustavo Ayon prefers to play in NBA over Europe next season

BASKET-WC-2014-KOR-MEX

Mexico’s coach Sergio Valdeolmillos (R) reacts past Mexico’s centre Gustavo Ayon during the 2014 FIBA World basketball championships group D match Korea vs Mexico at the Gran Canaria Arena in Gran Canaria on September 4, 2014. AFP PHOTO/ GERARD JULIEN (Photo credit should read GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Gustavo Ayon was the one bright spot in Mexico’s 86-63 loss to Team USA on Saturday, finishing with 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting, to go along with eight rebounds.

That performance may draw some attention from NBA teams in terms of considering adding Ayon for next season. But as of now, the offers are far more lucrative to play overseas.

From Marc Stein of ESPN.com:

ESPN sources say Gustavo Ayon certainly prefers to play in NBA next season but at this point his offers from Europe have simply been richer
Ayon has been handful for USA bigs even though they’re obviously zeroing in on him. Yet I suspect he’ll pass on NBA unless offers improve


The Spurs recently registered interest, but it’s unclear if things ever got to the offer stage, and if so, whether San Antonio would commit enough to match the ones
that are more concrete at this time.

Ayon appeared confident as Mexico’s best player against Team USA, and put in a strong showing, even with Anthony Davis patrolling the paint defensively. That will need to translate in his workouts for NBA teams if he wants to improve his stateside reputation, and entice someone to give him an offer that will rival those he’ll receive to play in Europe next season.