Best Latinos in the Western Conference

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When you think of Latinos in the NBA, there's been many over the years (Manu Ginobli, Al Horford and Leandro Barboza come to mind) but nowadays there's just a few remaining. When researching Latinos in the Western Conference the list is even shorter. Sportsbooks like Intertops offer betting lines for the games they play on and prop bets for their teams. Let's get started on our list of best latinos in the Western Conference.

Buddy Hield - Sacramento Kings (Bahamas)

The Kings' belief in Hield has paid off for both of them. Hield struggled in his rookie season, averaging just 8.6 points and 2.9 rebounds and he shot just 39.3 percent from the field and 36.9 percent from beyond the arc in 20.4 minutes over 57 games (37 starts) but the Kings saw something in him and wanted the Pelicans to include him in the package for DeMarcus Cousins.  

Hield has been with the Kings for over two seasons and he's thrived with them, which earned him a four-year, $94 million contract extension in the offseason. Hield was the team's best offensive player, averaging 20.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 31.9 minutes over 82 games, shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 42.7 percent from 3-point range.  

His spot-up shooting has been essential to the team's fast break just as De'Aaron Fox's end-to-end speed with the ball. Hield and Fox complement each other and he's found his place in the NBA. This season he's played well too, his numbers have decreased a bit from last year but it's early and he will get better once Fox returns from his ankle injury.

Deandre Ayton - Phoenix Suns (Bahamas)

Deandre Ayton was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and he averaged 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in 30.7 minutes over 71 games (70 starts) as a rookie last season. He was hoping to improve his production this year. Ayton started his second season strong, scoring 18 points with 11 rebounds, four blocks and one steal in 33 minutes in a 124-95 win against the Kings on October 23 but the NBA suspended him 25 games without pay for violating the terms of the league's Anti-Drug Program by testing positive for a diuretic.

The Suns are without Ayton until mid-December unless the suspension is reduced through the arbitration process. This was his statement:

"I want to apologize to my family, the entire Suns organization, my teammates, partners, our fans and the Phoenix community," Ayton said. "This was an unintentional mistake and unfortunately I put something in my body that I was completely unaware of."

"I do understand the unfortunate impact that this has on so many others, and for that I am deeply sorry. I'm extremely disappointed that I've let my team down. I will continue to work with the Players' Union (NBPA) to go through the arbitration process and am hopeful for a positive resolution."

Ayton could come back on the road game against the Clippers on December 17. 

Nene - Houston Rockets (Brazil)

Nene has been in the NBA for 17 years and this is his fourth season with the Rockets. His real name is Maybyner Rodney Hilário but family and friends in his native Brazil always called him Nene (or baby in Brazilian Portuguese) and he later legally changed his name to Nene Hilario.

Last season, the 36-year-old proved that he can still play quality minutes in an NBA team. He averaged just 3.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 13.0 minutes over 42 games for the Rockets but that's exactly what the team needs from him, a veteran big man with leadership who can help back up Clint Capela and Tyson Chandler. He's currently out with a hip injury but he will have a chance to fight for an NBA Championship this season.

J.J. Barea - Dallas Mavericks (Puerto Rico)

J.J. Barea is one of the most liked players in Dallas and throughout the entire NBA. Barea helped the Mavericks win an NBA Championship in 2011 and while he left the team and played for the Timberwolves for three years, he came back in the 2014-15 season and has stayed with Dallas since, providing solid minutes off the bench. 

He averaged 10.9 points and 5.6 assists in 19.8 minutes over just 38 games last season because he ruptured his Achilles. This season he's played in just one game (at the time of this writing), a 107-106 home win against the Magic on November 6 when he scored 11 points with assists on 3 of 6 shooting.

Skal Labissière - Portland Trail Blazers (Haiti)

Labissière spent his first two seasons in the league with the Kings and he played 13 games for them last year before being traded to the Trail Blazers for Caleb Swanigan. Last year the backup power forward had a tough time earning minutes in a deep Portland roster and this season he's having a bit more playing time, averaging 4.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in 14.7 minutes over 13 games (as of November 17).

Carmelo Anthony - Portland Trail Blazers (Puerto Rican father)

Carmelo Anthony was born in Manhattan but his father was Puerto Rican and he is very proud of his Afro-Latino heritage. He even has a tattoo of the Puerto Rican flag on his right hand and the Puerto Rico national team recently recruited. After over a year as a free agent, Anthony signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Trail Blazers and he will make his debut with the team in the next few days.

Anthony is considered one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history and as I write this he's averaged 24.0 points in 1,064 career games (1,056 starts) with the Nuggets, Knicks, Thunder, and Rockets. He hasn't played in the NBA since November 11, 2018, against the Thunder. No longer a franchise player, the 35-year-old is willing to change his game and come off the bench and provide scoring for the Trail Blazers. As a fan, I hope it works out for him.