The NBA's international marketing plan as the "Global Game" aims to attract new fans and inspire more players from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
It's had a lasting impact on 18-year-old Esteban Roacho Amador.
He didn't see the Phoenix Suns play against the San Antonio Spurs in Mexico City last December.
However, Roacho Amador was in the sold-out crowd of 20,064 to witness the Dallas Mavericks-Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic-Chicago Bulls games at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico that same month.
"I had that experience just watching them play andgiven the opportunity to see how the NBA game flows," Roacho Amador said.