Orlando Mendez-Valdez

Orlando Homer Méndez-Valdez (born April 29, 1986) is an American-born Mexican former professional basketball player who is currently the General manager of the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

High school career Mendez-Valdez attended Lanier High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he graduated in 2004. He was named the San Antonio Player of the year his senior year and first team All State honors, and his jersey number was retired in 2009.

Mendez-Valdez attended prep school at Charis Prep in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He won the MVP award in the Bull City Classic, and led the team to a championship at the tournament.

College career At the collegiate level, Mendez-Valdez played for Western Kentucky University from 2005 to 2009. He was a member of the 2008 Sweet Sixteen team which included Courtney Lee, Tyrone Brazelton, Ty Rogers, and Boris Siakam. In 2009, he was named the Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, and the Sun Belt Conference Male Athlete of the Year. In addition, he received All-American accolades, and recorded the first-ever triple double in Western Kentucky history.

Professional career After failing to be drafted in the 2009 NBA draft, he played professional basketball in the LNBP from 2009 to 2016. On September 14, 2016, Mendez-Valdez signed with the Israeli team Maccabi Haifa for the 2016–17 season. During his season with the club, Mendez-Valdez won the Three-Point Shootout contest in the Israeli League All-Star event, he also helped Haifa reaching the Israeli League Finals.

He returned to the LNBP on August 25, 2017, signing with Soles de Mexicali for the 2017–18 season.

Mexico City Capitanes (2022–2023) On November 4, 2022, Méndez was named to the opening night roster for the Mexico City Capitanes. On January 7, 2023, Méndez-Valdez was waived. On January 19, 2023, Méndez-Valdez was reacquired by the Capitanes de la Ciudad de México.

Méndez-Valdez retired after the end of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

National team career In 2013, Mendez-Valdez helped lead Mexico to victory in the gold medal game against Puerto Rico at the FIBA Americas Championship.

Honours Pan American Games 2011 Silver Medal Image:Med 2.png FIBA COCABA Championship 2013 Gold Medal Image:Med 1.png FIBA Americas Championship 2013 Gold Medal Image:Med 1.png Centrobasket 2016 Silver Medal Image:Med 2.png