Daniel Santiago - Biography

Biography

Santiago's paternal grandfather, Pedro Rodriguez, was a well known baseball player in Puerto Rico and emigrated to the United States to play. Due to his small stature he was nicknamed "Jockey," while grandson Daniel received the "El Gigante" (the giant) moniker. Puerto Rico's Jockey Rodriguez retired from baseball with the Albuquerque Dukes team under the name Pedro Santiago.

Santiago was raised in the West Texas area of Lamesa on a cotton farm and later in Albuquerque, New Mexico where his parents, Stan and Diana Santiago, originated. He has two younger brothers, Matthew and Jarrett Santiago. Santiago attended and played Junior College basketball at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico and played NCAA Division I basketball at the University of New Mexico. He finished up his collegiate career at the NAIA school of Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where he was named NAIA player of the year.

In Puerto Rico, Santiago played professionally on the National Superior Basketball League with the Vaqueros. He started playing in Bayamón in the mid-1990s, helping the team to various national championships and tournament finals. Between 1998 and 2000, he played for Varese Roosters of the Italian league and, in 2000 and 2001, with the NBA's Phoenix Suns as a back-up center. He was released from the Suns after the 2001 campaign was over. In 2003, Santiago returned to the NBA, with the Milwaukee Bucks, playing two consecutive seasons.

In 2002, Santiago represented Puerto Rican national team at the Indianapolis 2002 FIBA World Championship, and also played in the 2004 Olympic team that handed the United States their first defeat in Olympic play since they began using professional players. Santiago again represented Puerto Rico in the 2006 World Championship, retiring from the national side in 2007, only to return the following year.

In 2005, Santiago signed for a season with Spanish ACB League's Unicaja Málaga. After winning the 2006 league, he signed a further two-year deal with the Andalusia outfit. In 2008, Santiago signed with Regal FC Barcelona and the team took third place in 2009 Euroloeague.

In July 2009,Santiago came back from a 7-year absence to the Baloncesto Superior Nacional in Puerto Rico to play for the Bayamón Cowboys. In September 2009 he signed with Efes Pilsen S.K. of Turkey. In October 2010 he signed with Spirou Charleroi. In January 2011 he joined Capitanes de Arecibo.

In September 2012, Santiago signed with Boca Juniors in Argentina.