The Bahamas males’s nationwide basketball staff have the possibility to make historical past after qualifying for the Olympic tournament for the 2024 Paris video games however not everyone seems to be joyful about their success.
NBA gamers Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton and Eric Gordon led the best way for the aspect, who had two victories in opposition to Argentina – that means Argentina gained’t play in in Olympics for the primary time since 2000.
Gordon helped USA win gold in 2010 on the FIBA World Cup however was in a position to change his country of representation with FIBA’s approval.
But former Argentinian basketball nice Andres Nocioni is having bother accepting what he noticed as a last-minute change.
“Now with a cold mind, I think: is it fair what the Bahamas did to nationalize a player who had already competed for the United States (even winning a World Cup) at the last moment?,” Nocioni tweeted. “This signing belongs to the club league, not the national team competition. And it should be corrected.”
New Suns signing Gordon recorded 27 factors and shot 6-7 from the past the arc in Bahamas second win over Argentina – which they gained 82-75.
The 34-year-old has been a lot improved from his 2010 marketing campaign with the US, the place he solely averaged 8.6 factors per sport in comparison with 20.3 factors per sport through the pre-qualifying event.
It was additionally Deandre Ayton’s first time representing the Bahamas and in what some perceived to be a shot at his Phoenix teammates, Ayton had huge reward for his nationwide staff following their win.
“The best teammates I’ve ever been around, on and off the court,” Ayton told Duane Rankin. “Just understanding how it feels to fight for your country and everybody on the same mission was a phenomenal feeling.”
Gordon and Ayton will quickly head to the Suns coaching camp collectively because the franchise signed Gordon over the summer season.
It shall be attention-grabbing to see if their connection on the worldwide court docket will translate to the NBA.
