The Bahamas men’s national basketball team have the chance to make history after qualifying for the Olympic tournament for the 2024 Paris games but not everyone is happy about their success.
NBA players Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton and Eric Gordon led the way for the side, who had two victories against Argentina – meaning Argentina won’t play in in Olympics for the first time since 2000.
Gordon helped USA win gold in 2010 at the FIBA World Cup but was able to change his country of representation with FIBA’s approval.
But former Argentinian basketball great Andres Nocioni is having trouble accepting what he saw 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 points and shot 6-7 from the beyond the arc in Bahamas second win over Argentina – which they won 82-75.
The 34-year-old has been much improved from his 2010 campaign with the US, where he only averaged 8.6 points per game compared to 20.3 points per game during the pre-qualifying tournament.
It was also Deandre Ayton’s first time representing the Bahamas and in what some perceived to be a shot at his Phoenix teammates, Ayton had big praise for his national team 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 soon head to the Suns training camp together since the franchise signed Gordon over the summer.
It will be interesting to see if their connection on the international court will translate to the NBA.