2023-08-31 16:37:00
Recently qualified for the Olympic qualifying tournament, the Bahamas would like to recruit new NBA players to strengthen their ranks and compete in the Olympic Games. Of Bahamian origin on his father’s side, Klay Thompson seems ready to think about the idea of playing for the Caribbean country.
A few days ago, we wrote about the NBA players who could join the Bahamas national team in the coming months to seek their first participation in the Olympic Games. In the lot: Evan Mobley, Naz Reid but also… Klay Thompson.
The quadruple NBA champion with the Warriors is familiar with the Bahamas since his father, the number 1 of Draft 1978 Mychal Thompson, is a native of Nassau! If he has never put on the Bahamas jersey, his son could well do so in Paris in 2024.
Passing through Manila as part of an event with his equipment supplier Anta, Klay Thompson agreed to answer questions about a possible participation in the Olympic Games with the Bahamas.
“When the time is right, I will seriously consider this because of what the Bahamas has meant to the Thompson family, especially my father.
“He never had the chance to play for the national team because they didn’t have the opportunity in the 70s or 80s and now my brother is a member of the staff, which is also very cool. For now, my focus is on the NBA season, but when the time comes, next summer, I will think about it.”
Klay Thompson therefore does not wave a big yes but he clearly does not close the door to the idea of joining Deandre Ayton and co within the workforce. Being able to count on one of the best shooters in the world would be a big boost for the Bahamas, but there is still a catch: Klay Thompson has already played for Team USA (2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics).
As with Eric Gordon before him, Klay Thompson should therefore obtain the approval of the US federation but also of FIBA. We imagine that the reason would be the same as for Eric Gordon, namely to participate in the “development of basketball” in the Bahamas.
So there is a world where Klay Thompson plays with the Bahamas in Paris next year but it will still require an alignment of the planets. On the one hand that the Bahamas qualify for the Olympic Qualification Tournament in the coming months, on the other hand to get the green light from Team USA and FIBA. It will be necessary that Klay Thompson decides for the Bahamas of course but also that he is in a state to play. In the event of an extended season with the Warriors and given the player’s injury liabilities, it is obvious that we will have to think twice before continuing with the Olympics.
Even if he doesn’t play for the Bahamas, Klay Thompson will surely be one of the fans pushing behind Buddy Hield and his pals in the coming months. The back of the Warriors did not hide that he had loved the success of the Bahamians at the Olympic qualifying tournament organized in Argentina.
“When it comes to Bahamian basketball, I couldn’t be more proud of what they’ve accomplished over the past few weeks, especially Chris DeMarco (Warriors assistant and Bahamas coach), Buddy Hield, DeAndre Ayton, Eric Gordon and the rest of the Bahamians.
“These guys got the biggest victories in the history of our country by beating Argentina twice at home, which is not easy because Argentina are one of the best teams in the world.
It remains to be seen now whether Klay Thompson will fit into this list of names to seek new exploits on the side of Paris in 2024..
Source texte : Inquirer
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