It came as no surprise when the Golden State Warriors won another NBA championship, this time at the expense of the Boston Celtics. But winning never gets old.
“it’s special and a blessing,” noted Warriors super star Steph Curry. “It shows the faith, belief and hard work of our guys, and now they get to spray champagne all over the locker room.”
One of those guys was Juan Toscano-Anderson, a reserve forward who grew up in East Oakland while clinging to his Latino heritage. Although it was the Warrior’s fourth title in eight years, it was Toscano-Anderson’s first ring. In addition, he is the first Mexican-American to ever play on an NBA championship team. So to celebrate, Juan opted to wave a large flag of Mexico in a proud display of patriotism.
“Despite being born in the States, I consider myself a Mexican,” says Toscano-Anderson, who has has an immigrant mother from Michoacan and an Afro-American father. His loyalty is understandable.
Going undrafted in 2015 after four years at Marquette University, the 6′-6″ Toscano-Anderson played professionally in Mexico for the Mexicali Soles and later with the Monterrey Fuerza Regia. He was a hero south of the border, playing in two all-star games and winning the league’s MVP award once. That caught the attention of the Warriors, who signed Juan to a three year deal in 2020. He toiled mostly in the minor leagues on a split contract until finally making the Warriors club this season, making $1.7 million.
Toscano-Anderson’s God-given ability to jump makes him a valuable asset to any team. He excels in work under the glass, whether it be an offensive tip in or a defensive rebound, and he competed with skill in this year’s NBA slam dunk contest. That said, it’s uncertain whether Golden State will attempt to resign Juan for the 2023 season. And quite frankly, after his day in the sun, he doesn’t really care.
“Sometimes I miss playing in Monterrey,” reveals the 29 year old athlete, known simply as Juan Toscano in Mexico. “I don’t care that much about the money. I wake up every day just for the love of the sport.”
