Victorious in their first-ever G League home opener, Mexico City’s Capitanes represent novel opportunities

The team won its first home opener convincingly; can they convince more top talent to join them in Mexico City?

The Mexico City Capitanes played their home opener on Sunday night, a momentous occasion for NBA basketball in Mexico and the league more generally. While not the team’s first season in the G League, it was the first G League home game within Mexico. The Capitanes played only away games last season because of the pandemic and the logistical issues it created for international play.

Perhaps auspiciously, the local team won and won convincingly against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the developmental affiliate of the Houston Rockets. The Capitanes kicked off their existence in Mexico as a G League squad with a 120-84 blowout.

The Capitanes, helmed by head coach Ramón Díaz Sánchez, put together an entertaining contest to nearly 7,400 fans filling the modern Arena Ciudad de México’s lower bowl almost completely.