This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. No cleanup reason has been specified. Please help improve this article if you can; the talk page may contain suggestions. (July 2008)

Eduardo Nájera

No. 21 – Charlotte Bobcats
Power forward / Small forward
Personal information
Born	(1976-07-11) July 11, 1976 (age 35) Ciudad Meoqui, Chihuahua, Mexico
Nationality	Mexican
High school	Cornerstone Christian Academy (San Antonio)
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
College	Oklahoma (1996–2000)
NBA Draft	2000 / Round: 2 / Pick: 38th overall
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Pro career	2000–present
League	NBA
Career history
2000–2004	Dallas Mavericks
2004–2005	Golden State Warriors
2005–2008	Denver Nuggets
2008–2010	New Jersey Nets
2010	Dallas Mavericks
2010–present	Charlotte Bobcats
Career highlights and awards
Chip Hilton Player of the Year (2000) Third-team AP/NABC All-American (2000) First-team All-Big 12 (2000) Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2000) Second-team All-Big 12 (1999) Big 12 All-Freshman Team (1997)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Eduardo Alonso Nájera Pérez^[1] (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈnaxeɾa]^[2]) (born July 11, 1976) is a Mexican professional basketball player in the NBA, currently playing for the Charlotte Bobcats.

Personal information[link]

Eduardo Najera is only the second NBA player who is Mexican-born (Horacio Llamas was the first). He is the son of Servando Najera and Rosa Irene Perez.^[3]

After graduating from high school in Mexico in 1994, Najera attended Cornerstone Christian Academy in San Antonio, Texas for two years to learn English and attract college coaches.^[4]

Currently, he and Jennifer, his wife, have a daughter and two sons.^[5]

Basketball career[link]

Najera played college basketball at the University of Oklahoma, in Norman, Oklahoma, United States, from 1997–2000, becoming a major star there. He helped the team to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances during his college career, as well as finishing in the school's all-time top ten in nine statistical categories. Before being drafted into the NBA in 2000, Najera received rave reviews from scouts, who boasted on Najera's quick first step and extraordinary rebounding ability. He is only the second Mexican-born player to join the NBA.^[2] He was the first Mexican player to be drafted into the NBA (Horacio Llamas being undrafted).^[1]

Najera played for the Mexican team in the 1997 World University Games and helped them achieve a fourth place finish in the 1999 World University Games.^[1]

He saw significant action as a member of the Dallas Mavericks in 2000–01 and 2001–02, but recurrent knee injuries limited his action in his last two years in Dallas.

He played at the first-ever Basketball Without Borders Americas tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the 2004 NBA Summer of Goodwill.^[6]

On August 24, 2004, Najera was traded along with Luis Flores, Christian Laettner, Mladen Sekularac, cash, a 2007 first round draft pick, and another future first round draft pick to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Erick Dampier, Dan Dickau, Evan Eschmeyer, and Steve Logan.^[7] In Golden State Najera again put in modest minutes and was a solid contributor.

Najera with the Denver Nuggets

On February 24, 2005, he was then sent to the Denver Nuggets along with Luis Flores and a future first round pick in exchange for Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Rodney White, where he would have some of his most productive seasons as an NBA player.^[8]

Also in 2006, an exhibition match was played in Monterrey, Mexico, between the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets.

On April 27, 2006, Najera started his first playoff game for the Nuggets in Game 3 of their first round series facing the Los Angeles Clippers. He replaced Kenyon Martin who was suspended indefinitely for "conduct detrimental to the team".

He was partly involved in the December 2006 Knicks–Nuggets brawl. While not involved in the actual fighting, he did try to separate the players. He was ejected from the game.

On July 11, 2008 he signed a contract with the New Jersey Nets for 4 years $12 million.^[9][10] He stated that he would make it a point to turn the Nets' young forwards Yi Jianlian and Ryan Anderson and center Brook Lopez into stronger, tougher players. Najera turned down more money and a chance to return to his college state, Oklahoma City Thunder. He also turned down an offer from the New Orleans Hornets in order to take a chance to lead a young and talented New Jersey team.

On January 11, 2010, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Kris Humphries and Shawne Williams.^[11]

On July 13, 2010, Nájera was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats along with Erick Dampier and Matt Carroll in exchange for Tyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinça.^[12]

Off the court[link]

In 2000, Eduardo Najera was named Third Team All-American by both the Associated Press and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

In 2000, Eduardo Najera graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in sociology.

In 2000, Najera received the Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame, an award given to a player who has demonstrated personal character both on and off the court.^[2]

In 2001, Najera served as the United Nations Drug Control Programme Goodwill Ambassador for Sports Against Drugs. In 2004, he established the Eduardo Najera Foundation for Latino Achievement, which provides college scholarships for outstanding Latino students facing barriers to their educations, and in 2006, he received the Chopper Travaglini Award for demonstrating outstanding charity work in the Denver community.^[13]

NBA career statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]

Career highs[link]

• Points: 19: 2 times
• Rebounds: 15: vs. Houston 04/11/02
• Assists: 7: @ Milwaukee 01/09/09
• Steals: 6: 2 times
• Blocks: 4: vs. Seattle 12/29/05

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• NBA.com: Eduardo Najera
• Eduardo Najera at Basketball-Reference.com

Nájera
Seal
Nájera Location in Spain
Coordinates: 42°25′N 2°44′W / 42.417°N 2.733°W / 42.417; -2.733Coordinates: 42°25′N 2°44′W / 42.417°N 2.733°W / 42.417; -2.733
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	La Rioja
Comarca	Nájera
Government
• Mayor	Marta Martínez García (PP)
Area
• Total	37.44 km2 (14.46 sq mi)
Elevation	485 m (1,591 ft)
Population (2010)
• Total	8,404
• Density	220/km2 (580/sq mi)
Demonym	Najerinos or Najerenses
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CET (UTC+2)
Website	Official website

Nájera is a small town located in the "Rioja Alta" region of La Rioja, Spain on the river Najerilla. Nájera is a stopping point on the Way of St James.

History[link]

The area attracted the Romans, who built the town of Tritium on land which now falls within the boundaries of Nájera and the neighbouring municipality of Tricio. Subsequently the area was under Muslim rule and the name Nájera (Naxara meaning "town between the rocks") is of Arabic origin.

The town was conquered by Ordoño II of Leon for Navarre in 923. Nájera was the capital city of the kingdom of Navarre before being conquered by Castile in 1054 after the battle of Atapuerca. However, it continued to be multi-cultural. For example, in 1142 there was a visit from a French abbot Peter the Venerable. He used his visit to Spain to commission translations of important Islamic works, including the first translation of the Qur'an into a European language, and it has been suggested he met with his four translators at Nájera. From the tenth century Nájera had a prosperous Jewish community, which was granted relatively favorable legal status after the Christian conquest.

Edward, the Black Prince fought in the Battle of Nájera in 1367, intervening in a Castilian Civil War on behalf of Pedro of Castile.

Main sights[link]

The church of Santa María la Real was founded by García Sánchez III of Pamplona in 1052. It is the burial-place of Spanish kings. The monks had to abandon the annexed monastic complex in the 19th century, as a result of the anti-clerical reforms of Juan Álvarez Mendizábal.

Other sights include:

• Convent of St. Helena (18th century)
• Bridge on the Najerilla river, built in the 12th century and remade in 1880
• La Mota Castle, of Islamic origin, built in 923, currently on ruins.
• Town Museum
• Excavations of the Alcázar, abandoned in the 16th century
• Monastery of Valvanera, 16 km from the town, built in the 11th century, but restored in Gothic style in the 15th century as it became a residence of Isabella of Spain.

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nájera

• Municipal elections in Nájera
• Candidature of Najeran Independents
• Independent Municipal Democracy
• Najeran Alternative Forum

v t e Municipalities in La Rioja Ábalos Agoncillo Aguilar del Río Alhama Ajamil Albelda de Iregua Alberite Alcanadre Aldeanueva de Ebro Alesanco Alesón Alfaro Almarza de Cameros Anguciana Anguiano Arenzana de Abajo Arenzana de Arriba Arnedillo Arnedo Arrúbal Ausejo Autol Azofra Badarán Bañares Baños de Rioja Baños de Río Tobía Berceo Bergasa Bergasillas Bajera Bezares Bobadilla Brieva de Cameros Briones Briñas Cabezón de Cameros Calahorra Camprovín Canales de la Sierra Canillas de Río Tuerto Casalarreina Castañares de Rioja Castroviejo Cañas Cellorigo Cenicero Cervera del Río Alhama Cidamón Cihuri Cirueña Clavijo Cordovín Corera Cornago Corporales Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón Cárdenas Daroca de Rioja El Rasillo de Cameros El Redal El Villar de Arnedo Enciso Entrena Estollo Ezcaray Foncea Fonzaleche Fuenmayor Galbárruli Galilea Gallinero de Cameros Gimileo Grañón Grávalos Haro Herce Herramélluri Hervías Hormilla Hormilleja Hornillos de Cameros Hornos de Moncalvillo Huércanos Igea Jalón de Cameros Laguna de Cameros Lagunilla del Jubera Lardero Ledesma de la Cogolla Leiva Leza de Río Leza Logroño Lumbreras Manjarrés Mansilla de la Sierra Manzanares de Rioja Matute Medrano Munilla Murillo de Río Leza Muro de Aguas Muro en Cameros Nalda Navajún Navarrete Nestares Nieva de Cameros Nájera Ochánduri Ocón Ojacastro Ollauri Ortigosa de Cameros Pazuengos Pedroso Pinillos Pradejón Pradillo Préjano Quel Rabanera Ribafrecha Rincón de Soto Robres del Castillo Rodezno Sajazarra San Asensio San Millán de Yécora San Millán de la Cogolla San Román de Cameros San Torcuato San Vicente de la Sonsierra Santa Coloma Santa Engracia del Jubera Santa Eulalia Bajera Santo Domingo de la Calzada Santurde de Rioja Santurdejo Sojuela Sorzano Soto en Cameros Sotés Terroba Tirgo Tobía Tormantos Torre en Cameros Torrecilla en Cameros Torrecilla sobre Alesanco Torremontalbo Treviana Tricio Tudelilla Uruñuela Valdemadera Valgañón Ventosa Ventrosa Viguera Villalba de Rioja Villalobar de Rioja Villamediana de Iregua Villanueva de Cameros Villar de Torre Villarejo Villarroya Villarta-Quintana Villavelayo Villaverde de Rioja Villoslada de Cameros Viniegra de Abajo Viniegra de Arriba Zarratón Zarzosa Zorraquín

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (June 2010)

Horacio Llamas Grey (born July 17, 1973 in Rosario, Sinaloa, Mexico), known in non-Spanish-speaking countries as Horacio Llamas, is a Mexican professional basketball player. He is a 7'0" and 250 lb center.

Llamas moved to the United States as a teenager. He played for two years at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, where he earned Arizona Community College Athletic Conference All Conference honors his freshman and sophomore seasons. Instead of attending an NCAA Division I college, like most NBA players, Llamas chose NCAA Division II Grand Canyon University where he earned NCAA Division II Player Of The Year honors during his senior season.

Llamas had already made a mark on Mexican basketball when he graduated from Pima Community College: Having played in the Mexican league many years, he was named the Mexican national team's starting center, and he participated in such international events as the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games, held in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

When Llamas played at Pima Community College, he played well enough to make Phoenix Suns scouts feel impressed. In 1996, he was signed by the Suns. When he made his Suns debut, he made history by becoming the first Mexican to participate in an NBA game.^[1] He chose to wear jersey number 17 which is the date of his birthday.

Llamas had an impact in the Phoenix community, partly because of the large amount of Hispanics who live there. Soon after he began playing with the Suns, he was featured on the cover of the Suns' magazine, Fastbreak. Hoping to keep on bringing Hispanic fans to their home games, the Suns acquired Puerto Rico's Daniel Santiago soon after Llamas was released.

Llamas played in 20 games during his debut season, scoring 34 points for an average of 1.7 points per game, with 18 rebounds for 0.9 rebounds per game and 4 assists, for 0.2 assists per game. He made his NBA debut at Renunion Arena against Dallas on March 2, 1997 just after signing for the Suns and played 4 minutes, scoring on his only attempt in a 109-108 win and played in most of the games. His first career start saw him play a career best 24 minutes with 6 points, 4 reb, 1 ast and 1 stl in a 109-96 home win over the Houston Rockets.

In the 1997-98, he played in eight games, three games in November, one game in February and four games in April, scoring 24 points for a total of 3.0 points per game, with 18 rebounds for a total of 2.3 rebounds per game, and 1 assist, for 0.1 assists per game and never saw any more than 8 minutes on the court. He had an NBA best 7 points including a 3-pointer in his final game for the Suns in a 123-93 thrashing at Houston in the final game of the regular season.

After 28 games in two seasons with the Suns, Llamas was released after the 97-98 season. His production totals may have been adversely affected by his not playing many minutes as a member of the Suns: in his 28 games, he only saw action a total of 143 minutes, for an average of 5 minutes played per game. On the other hand, local newspapers reported during his stint that his conditioning was said to be poor, at least initially.

Llamas continued on playing basketball, playing in various international leagues as well as in the Mexican league.

In 2004, Llamas tried to make a comeback to the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks had Santiago playing at center, however, and they decided not to sign Llamas.

Currently, Horacio Llamas plays with Pioneros de Quintana Roo in the Mexican Basketball League. (http://www.lnbp.com.mx/)

References[link]