You don�t often associate Latino culture with the NBA, but there is a growing Hispanic influence on the game. Basketball was invented in the United States and America still dominates, but the game is very popular throughout the world. There are many players in the NBA from other countries as diverse as Argentina, China, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Spain, Turkey, etc� My favorite NBA team, the LA Lakers, is closing in on their 16th world championship. This title will put them only 1 championship all-time behind the rival Boston Celtics. My favorite player on the Lakers is Pau Gasol from Spain. He took much of the blame for the Lakers losing the 2008 NBA title to the Celtics. The criticism of him at the time was that he was soft. He shied away from contact and was not dominant defensively or as a rebounder, the parts of the game where the tough guys excel. Since those playoffs, he has put on 15 pounds of muscle and is now making a difference as the Lakers take control of the series over Boston. Some say he is the MVP of the finals so far....