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MOSTMAGAZINEQ: AFTER A SEASON IN URUGUAY, YOU GAVE UP A BIG CONTRACT TO RETURN TO IBIZA. WHAT WENT INTO THAT DECISION? A: After a season in the beautiful country of Uruguay %u2014 which is about 14 hours from Spain %u2014 we realized that balancing our love and our careers might become an issue. Our love language is physical touch, and being that far apart made things difficult.Playing in Uruguay was on a year-to-year contract, with no guarantees. Meanwhile, my wife%u2019s business in Ibiza was growing, and after we got married, she was ready to bring me in as a partner %u2014 which would allow me to stay in Spain. It was a tough decision. Even if I didn%u2019t go back to Uruguay, what if I ended up in China or Bulgaria again? The distance would continue to hurt us.The business was doing well enough that I decided I could play basketball locally for a mid-level salary, and we could make up the rest through the business.Q: YOU AND YOUR WIFE HAVE STARTED BUSINESSES IN IBIZA. CAN YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT THAT? A: The business is called Allure Ibiza Home Management. We do rentals, home management services, and apartment sales in Ibiza! Correct me if I%u2019m wrong, but this might be the only half-Black-owned business on the island %u2014 haha. No, but seriously, my wife has lived in Ibiza for 23 years and knows literally everyone and everything about the island. So joining and contributing to the business was a no-brainer.We also own a laundry service, concierge services, and a cleaning business. Literally anything you need when you come to Ibiza %u2014 we got you covered. I%u2019m trying to help bring more of an American Black presence to the island. It%u2019s honestly wild that more haven%u2019t visited yet %u2014 they%u2019d absolutely love it.Contact us on Instagram at @AllureIbiza, and I%u2019ll definitely help make your Ibiza experience magical. Q: YOU%u2019VE PLAYED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. IF YOU HAD TO PICK ONE PLAC E TO CALL YOUR SECOND HOME (BESIDES IBIZA), WHERE WOULD IT BE? A: If I had to pick a place to live, I think it would be Colombia. Very beautiful country, great food, great people %u2014 and now that I%u2019m somewhat fluent in Spanish, I think I could live a chill and happy life there. Q: LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT%u2019S NEXT FOR LARON SMITH? A: What%u2019s next for me is continuing to help Ibiza basketball grow. I%u2019ve started taking real estate classes to better qualify myself for more in the business after basketball. We%u2019re also planning to expand the company to Dubai.Personally, I want to open a sports gym on Ibiza for the kids here. And my biggest dream? To open a Popeyes on the island %u2014 don%u2019t tell my wife that one, haha!PhotographerAlfredo Oma%u00f1a PadronIG: @alfredoomanapadron44 MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 77