Carl Herrera (Venezuela)

Although he was born in Trinidad and Tobago, he is the quintessential Venezuelan. He was the first one to reach the NBA in a career that saw him first with the Houston Rockets, next with the San Antonio Spurs, then Vancouver and, finally, with Denver.

After been active 27 of his 40 years, Carl Herrera is a living legend because of his contribution to the basketball and for what he achieved in the world’s most important league, where he won two consecutives titles, in 1994 and 1995.

During those two years with the Rockets, he played alongside the mythic Hakeem Olajuwon and was categorized as one of the best defensive players. In his second season, he averaged 7.5 points and 5.6 rebounds on 22.2 minutes per game.

His College career started in the Jacksonville Community College, in Texas. After that, he got enrolled in the University of Houston (1989-90).

In 1992, arguably his best year, Herrera guided Venezuela to a silver medal in the Pre-Olympic in Portland, where they lose to the first Dream Team; that Venezuelan team was coached by the Puerto Rican coach Julio Toro. In that tournament, he averaged 20.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in seven games. As a result of that second place, he went to the Olympics games in Barcelona.

After finishing his NBA career, he went back to the Venezuelan Professional Basketball League, for the 1999 season, with Bravos de Portuguesa. After that, in 2000, he played both for the Trotamundos of Carabobo and for the Guaros of Lara. As a result of his long stay in Venezuela, he is amongst the all-time leaders in points, rebounds, minutes played and blocked shots.

He was selected by the Miami Heat in the second round (30th pick) of the NBA Draft in 1990. Later, he was transferred, alongside Dave Jamerson, to Houston for Alec Kessler. From 1990 to 1991, he played with the Real Madrid in Spain. In September 29, 1992, he signed as a free agent with the Rockets; and in 1995, with the San Antonio Spurs. Three years later, on June 25, 1998, he was transferred to Vancouver, along with the rights over the Dominican Felipe Lopez, in exchange of Antonio Daniela. There, he played four games before been released. On March 3rd, he signed with Denver, staying for the 24 games left in the season.

In 1993, he was chosen as one of the 100 More Influential Hispanics in the United States by Hispanic Business Magazine. On January 2005, in New York, he received a distinction by the Latin Sports Awards alongside other great sport figures like Dominican Adrian Beltre, from the Seattle Mariners, and Jose “Chegui” Torres, a highly renowned Puerto Rican boxer.

FIBA Americas