Carmelo Anthony and Manu Ginóbili are arguably the two greatest Latino players in the history of NBA basketball. Carmelo is a 10-time All-Star and the league's ninth all-time leading soccer while Ginóbili is a two-time All-Star and a four-time NBA World Champion. The two perimeter players joined the league back in the early 2000s. Since then, other notable stars of Latino descent have followed, such as Al Horford, Devin Booker, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Jose Alvarado. But none of them have been quite as vocal about the intricacies of their heritage as Juan Tascano-Andrerson, a former Golden State Warrior who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. His unique cultural experience as a Mexican American and an African American have equipped him with two different viewpoints and the ability to provide commentary on pivotal societal issues that both communities have faced. He grew up in a Black community in Oakland, California, but he was raised by his Mexican American mother, Patricia. The 29-year-old is currently a member of Mexico's national basketball team, and last year he became the first Mexican American to win an NBA Championship as a member of the Golden State Warriors. 

In a recent interview with his former teammate, Draymond Green, on an episode of Hoops and Hollywood, Juan talked about making history as a Mexican American and the discrimination he endured as Black Latino, citing that he often struggled to gain acceptance from Blacks and Latinos growing up because he's biracial.

"You're the first Mexican to ever win an NBA Championship," Said Draymond Green, as he sat across the table from Juan and the other interviewee; an actor named Rome Flynn. "How does that feel to be the first of a country? I'm from [the city of] Saginaw (Michigan), to be the first person from Saginaw is dope. But to be the first from a country to do something, how does that feel?

"It's a hell of a feeling, I'll always be a part of history, " responded Juan. "So, when they talk about Mexican basketball or anything in that history, they're always going to speak about me. For me, that's amazing. People come, and they go in this world and the league...people are going to forget about guys who aren't four-time champions [and] guys who ain't hall of famers...but it's just pretty cool to be stamped in history and to be able to say I'm the first...it's amazing, but there's a lot that comes with that though, not being full Mexican [and] not speaking Spanish the best. I speak fluently, but it ain't the best. You know what I'm saying? So there's just a lot that comes with that territory and what's expected of you."

"You also said something where you were essentially speaking to me when you said 'unless you're a four-time champion, they'll forget you," replied the host and four-time NBA Champion, Draymond Green. "The one thing that I feel and that I know, four-time champion or not, Jay-Z said it best: 'You still a n*gga.' And I know that, I feel that. I just won my fourth championship. That's incredible, but three was amazing too...but you're still subject to all the bullsh*t, so when you say 'yo, there's more that comes with [being biracial],' I'm sure there's some discrimination and different things that you've faced...Yes, you are Mexican, but you're Black! And I'm sure that there are things that you have faced by being half Mexican and half Black, that's what I'd imagine, but I want to hear a little more about that [from you]."

"One thing I always tell people is growing up biracial is a tough place, but I never really talk about that to people, I'm not crying for help," replied Juan. "One thing I've learned from the people around me is to focus on the positivity and not the negativity...but even as a kid from Mexicans, they were very racist towards me and my brother...the other Mexicans were getting away with sh*t [and] we were the last ones to get fed. Sh*t that I didn't understand. Also, from Black people, I do experience some colorism...When I did the protests, people were saying I wasn't Black enough to lead a protest...I'm learning just to be me unapologetically. It ain't really about me no more. It's really about the other young kids that's out there that used to feel the same way I felt, and my brother felt when we was kids. Cause I remember the sh*t used to hurt my feelings...it hurt my feelings when people said I wasn't Black enough to lead a protest." 

"What you [accomplished] was so powerful and amazing," replied Draymond. "And by the way, you being Mexican and Black made it mean even more."

During the discussion, the 6'6 shooting guard/small forward also talked about the reception that he got from his community after draping the Mexican flag over his body upon winning an NBA Championship in July.

 

To hear more from Jaun Toscano-Anderson about his pride in his communities, his accomplishments on the court, and the hurdles he's overcome, scroll up, skip ahead to the 18:59 mark, and press play.

Source: YouTube