Mexico's Gustavo Ayon celebrates
Mexico's Gustavo Ayon celebrates with a sombrero after defeating Puerto Rico at the FIBA Americas Championship final basketball game in Caracas September 11, 2013. Reuters

For his excellent play in the international basketball scene, Gustavo Ayon has gotten the attention of the defending NBA champions San Antonio Spurs.

According to a RealGM, a popular basketball news and forum website, the Mexican star is choosing between the Texas team and a squad from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

Shams Charania,a RealGM writer, tweeted the development:

Free agent center Gustavo Ayon's debating between formal offers from the San Antonio Spurs and Shandong in China, sources tell RealGM.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 17, 2014

The 29-year-old Ayon is already a journeyman in the NBA playing for four teams in the last three years in the league. He suited up for the New Orleans Hornets (2011-2012); Milwaukee Bucks (2012-2013); Orlando Magic (2012-2013) and Atlanta Hawks (2013-2014).

However, the 6-foot-9 power forward has seen limited games and minutes in the NBA and never really had a big role in any of the teams he has played for.

Ayon is a different animal altogether in the international scene.

At the FIBA World Cup in Spain earlier in September, Ayon averaged 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in 32.0 minutes per game for the Mexican basketball national team. He shot over 61 per cent from the field and also logged in 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocked shots per outing.

Ayon’s best game in the basketball world championships came against the United States of America (USA) when he dropped 25 points, shot 11-of-19 from the field and added 8 rebounds.

San Antonio head coach/general manager Gregg Popovich and the rest of the Spurs brass are known for finding obscure talent and turning them into great role players if not, NBA stars. Could Gustavo Ayon be their Spurs next project?

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