Iverson Molinar, will he be the sixth Panamanian to come to the NBA?

Iverson Molinar, G-League Mexico City Captains player, He asserted that he has the talent to become the sixth Panamanian player to reach the NBA.

“I can be the sixth, I have that confidence; you always have to go to plan A with everything you have and that’s my plan A, to be the sixth Panamanian in the NBA,” the player who joined the NBA Development League captains last December told EFE.

The young player dreams of adding his name to Roland Blackman, Stuart Gray, Rubén Garcés, Gary Forbes and Lorenzo Charles, now deceased, Panamanians who played in the NBA.

Molinar, 24, was part of the Wisconsin Herd last season, a team where he averaged eight points, 2.3 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 7 games.

“I am very excited because there is a possibility, players older than me have gone from the G-League to the NBA and that encourages me. I see it in the future, I have the skills and abilities to achieve it and fulfill my dream .. I will not lose confidence,” he emphasized .

A man born in the capital of Panama moved to the USA with his family at the age of 15. There he developed his potential until he entered the University of Mississippi.

Although he was not selected by any NBA team in 2022, when he was the 85th potential player in the draft, he assured that thanks to this opportunity with the Capitanes, he will be able to prove himself again, as he already did with the Wisconsin Herd.

“The Capitanes are the bridge from Latin America to the United States. I know the strength of this franchise, so I saw this as a great opportunity to show my skills to return to the United States, but to the NBA,” he said.

Iverson, who was named after Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson, whose father was a fan, noted that as a Latin American, he is used to being seen as an ‘underdog’ in the United States, something that does not affect him.

“We, Latin Americans, have the mental strength to achieve this, we are used to being the ‘underdog’ and asserting ourselves with the determination and courage that characterizes us.”

Iverson Molinar, who was part of the Panamanian team, also spoke about the situation basketball is going through in his country.

“In Panama, we have a great future in basketball because there is a lot of talent, but we need more support. We can do something great, we lost this window for the Olympics, but there is something we can compete with again; I would be happy to represent my country,” he concluded.