2023-08-01 08:01:00
Deandre Ayton has been in the news since the start of the offseason. This time, it’s not to talk regarding transfer rumors or to debrief his media releases, but to announce that the pivot of the Suns will participate in the Olympic qualifying tournament of the Americas with the Bahamas, his native country.
The World Cup is not the only international basketball event of the summer! To wait a little before the start of the World Cup (August 25), we will be entitled to several Olympic prequalification tournaments around the world. That of the Americas zone will take place from August 14 to 20 in Argentina, and Deandre Ayton will be there with the Bahamas. At 25, the pivot will wear his country’s jersey for the first time since… 2016, two years before his draft.
“I’m happy to be back with the Bahamas team this summer. Our goal is to win. This tournament is the first step for qualifying for the Olympic Games. I am always proud to represent my country. I can’t wait to put on this Bahamas jersey and defend the colors of my country. – Deandre Ayton, for Innovate Sports
Ayton is not the only known head in this Bahamian roster, which includes three other NBAers! Buddy Hield (Indiana Pacers) et Kai Jones (Charlotte Hornets) will be back in selection following having played in the qualifications for the World Cup last summer. For his part, Ayton’s new teammate in Phoenix, Eric Gordon, will take his first steps with the Bahamas. Winner of the World Cup in 2010 with the United States, the 34-year-old rear seems to have obtained an exemption to represent the country of his mother, a native of Nassau.
NBA players Deandre Ayton, Eric Gordon, Buddy Hield and Kai Jones are on the roster for their native Bahamas for the Olympic Qualifier in Santiago de Estero, Argentina on Aug. 14-20. Other countries: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Uruguay and the US Virgin Islands.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 31, 2023
With four NBA players on the roster, the Bahamas seem to have one of the most competitive teams in their history. If all these beautiful people are well managed by coach Chris DeMarco, assistant to the Warriors, the Bahamians have every chance of performing in this Olympic prequalification tournament. They will face Argentina, Panama and Cuba in the group stage, with the aim of finishing in the top two in order to advance to the second phase.
Source : Marc J. Spears, Innovate Sports, FIBA
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