Chihuahua City, Mexico – A packed house of more than 15,000 fans turned out Saturday night to watch the Michael Jordan of Mexico.
As they chanted his nickname, “Lalo,” Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera hosted the inaugural Eduardo Najera all-stars game at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autonóma de Chihuahua.
NBA players who participated included Nuggets free-agent guards Greg Buckner and DerMarr Johnson, former Nugget Rodney White, Jason Richardson, Daniel Santiago, Scott Williams and the recently retired Shawn Bradley.
Proceeds from the game will go to the Eduardo Najera Foundation.
“It’s unbelievable how they turned out here,” said Najera, the only Mexican player in the NBA. “I don’t want to get caught up too much in this atmosphere because I realize I am not one of the stars in the NBA. I try to keep it down. But at the same time, I enjoy this a lot. They treat me very well.”
Said Johnson: “Eduardo is like Michael Jordan here.”
Richardson, a two-time dunk champion, stole the show with an array of show-stopping jams.
“I’m glad I brought him,” Najera said.
D.J. wants to stay
Johnson said he told his agent, Dan Fegan, he would prefer to re-sign with Denver. The 6-foot-9, 201-pounder averaged 7.1 points and started 40 games last season.
Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe talked to Fegan during the weekend but made no offer.
“I’m getting a lot of interest from the Nuggets,” Johnson said. “I would love to be a Nugget. I know they’re going to look at other guys. I just want to be in a position where I’m on the floor.”
Denver drafted shooting guard Julius Hodge last month and is considering several free agents, as well as Buckner and Johnson. Johnson said he wouldn’t be bothered by a shooting-guard-by-committee scenario like the team used last season.
“I had a chance to play last (season),” Johnson said. “I’m more worried about the bigger- name guys.”
Vandeweghe said he has told Buckner’s agent, “We want him back.” Buckner wants to be back, but he isn’t sure the Nuggets want him and Johnson.
“I don’t see them keeping both of us,” Buckner said. “It just depends on what Kiki and (coach) George Karl wants.”
Footnotes
White said he is getting interest from several teams but wouldn’t mind returning to Denver. “I want to come back if they want me back,” White said. … Two Altitude Sports Network officials were in Chihuahua to talk to Najera about the possibility of a weekly talk show in Spanish.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
