Orlando Homer Méndez-Valdez (born April 29, 1986) is an American-born Mexican[1] former professional basketball player who is currently the General manager of the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
 Méndez-Valdez with Mexico in 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mexico City Capitanes | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | General manager | ||||||||||||||||||||
| League | NBA G League | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | April 29, 1986 San Antonio, Texas | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | American / Mexican | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| High school |
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| College | Western Kentucky (2005–2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2009: undrafted | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2009–2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 13, 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2012 | Halcones de Xalapa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Pioneros de Quintana Roo | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Halcones de Xalapa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Pioneros de Quintana Roo | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Maccabi Haifa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | Soles de Mexicali | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Capitanes de Ciudad de México | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Mineros de Zacatecas | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Plateros de Fresnillo | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Peñarol | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Mexico City Capitanes | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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High school career
editMendez-Valdez attended Lanier High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he graduated in 2004. He was named the San Antonio Player of the year his senior year and first team All State honors, and his jersey number was retired in 2009.[2][3]
Mendez-Valdez attended prep school at Charis Prep in Goldsboro, North Carolina.[4] He won the MVP award in the Bull City Classic, and led the team to a championship at the tournament.
College career
editAt the collegiate level, Mendez-Valdez played for Western Kentucky University from 2005 to 2009. He was a member of the 2008 Sweet Sixteen team which included Courtney Lee, Tyrone Brazelton, Ty Rogers, and Boris Siakam. In 2009, he was named the Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, and the Sun Belt Conference Male Athlete of the Year. In addition, he received All-American accolades, and recorded the first-ever triple double in Western Kentucky history.[5]
Professional career
editAfter failing to be drafted in the 2009 NBA draft, he played professional basketball in the LNBP from 2009 to 2016. On September 14, 2016, Mendez-Valdez signed with the Israeli team Maccabi Haifa for the 2016–17 season.[6] During his season with the club, Mendez-Valdez won the Three-Point Shootout contest in the Israeli League All-Star event, he also helped Haifa reaching the Israeli League Finals.
He returned to the LNBP on August 25, 2017, signing with Soles de Mexicali for the 2017–18 season.[7]
Mexico City Capitanes (2022–2023)
editOn November 4, 2022, Méndez was named to the opening night roster for the Mexico City Capitanes.[8] On January 7, 2023, Méndez-Valdez was waived.[9] On January 19, 2023, Méndez-Valdez was reacquired by the Capitanes de Ciudad de México.[10]
Méndez-Valdez retired after the end of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.[11]
National team career
editIn 2013, Mendez-Valdez helped lead Mexico to victory in the gold medal game against Puerto Rico at the FIBA Americas Championship.
Honours
edit- Pan American Games 2011 Silver Medal
- FIBA COCABA Championship 2013 Gold Medal
- FIBA Americas Championship 2013 Gold Medal
- Centrobasket 2016 Silver Medal
References
edit- ^ "From el Barrio to Standout Pro -- San Antonio Express-News - Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
- ^ Flores, David. "Lanier graduate Mendez-Valdez has fond memories of Tractor-Traylor". KENS 5. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ "Persistence Paid Off for Orlando Mendez-Valdez". ALL KY Hoops Feature. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ Charis Prep Home Page, accessed 26 September 2011
- ^ WKU Official Athletics Page, accessed 26 September 2011
- ^ "Maccabi Haifa signs Orlando Mendez-Valdez". Sportando.com. September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
- ^ "Orlando Méndez será el movedor de Soles de Mexicali". lavozdelafrontera.com (in Spanish). August 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
- ^ "Capitanes de Ciudad de México roster 2022-23". November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". NBA.com. January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". NBA.com. January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- ^ Avilés, Martín (January 19, 2023). ""¡México, México!": La afición despide a la selección de básquet antes irse al Mundial". Ovaciones.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.