Tim Duncan and Hakeem Olajuwon Lead the All-Time Roster of NBA Legends Who Played in Mexico
When the Denver Nuggets face the Indiana Pacers on November 7, 2026, in Mexico City, the matchup will mark the 35th NBA game played in Mexico, counting both preseason and regular-season fixtures, according to ESPN Deportes. No country outside the United States and Canada has hosted more games for the league.
That milestone brings a fresh wave of elite talent to the Mexican capital, headlined by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets. While Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton will miss the contest due to a left hamstring strain, the fixture adds another chapter to a rich history of basketball icons traveling south of the border over the last three decades.
ESPN Deportes notes that while contemporary stars like Jokic and Jamal Murray command attention on the court, evaluating the greatest player to ever appear on a Mexican hardwood court opens a compelling historical debate spanning Hall of Famers, champions, and league MVPs.
The Immortals: Duncan, Olajuwon, and the Heavyweights of Past Decades
At the very top of the historical tier stands Tim Duncan. The San Antonio Spurs icon appeared in Mexico City during a 2010 game at the Palacio de Deportes, contributing 17 points to a Spurs victory. Duncan retired with five NBA championships, three Finals MVP awards, two regular-season MVPs, and 15 All-Star selections, cementing his status as one of the game’s greatest pillars.
Also among the immortals is Hakeem Olajuwon, who played in Mexico three times, including the country’s first regular-season game in 1997. Olajuwon captured back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995 with the Houston Rockets, earning two Finals MVP honors, a regular-season MVP, and finishing his career as the league’s all-time leader in blocked shots.
Other all-time greats made their marks in earlier eras. John Stockton and Karl Malone traveled to Mexico in 1996 for preseason matchups against the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns as part of the Mexico City Challenge at the Palacio de Deportes. Dirk Nowitzki played in a 2017 contest near the end of his illustrious career, while his former teammate Steve Nash brought his MVP credentials to Monterrey for a game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Scoring Explosions and Modern Icons in Mexico City
Recent years have brought some of the league’s most dynamic modern scorers to Arena CDMX. In 2019, Luka Doncic delivered a 41-point triple-double for the Dallas Mavericks against the Detroit Pistons, thrilling fans by addressing the crowd in fluent Spanish before tip-off.
Other players have treated Mexican crowds to individual scoring masterclasses. Devin Booker poured in 39 points twice during a 2017 series between the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, a game that featured a scoring duel with Kawhi Leonard, who countered with 38 points for San Antonio. Trae Young added his name to the record books with a 41-point performance against the Orlando Magic in 2023.
The lineage extends back to earlier generations of stars, including Allen Iverson, who scored 24 points in a 2000 preseason game at the Palacio de Deportes, and Gary Payton, who suited up for the Seattle SuperSonics in 1994 during the early days of the NBA Challenge.
