One more step, and the Bahamas will create one of the biggest feats in world basketball! This Sunday, Deandre Ayton's teammates face Spain in the final of the Valencia OQT, and the winner will go to the Olympic Games. To take the steps one by one to this final, the Federation went to get Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon, and the two NBAers are not paralyzed by the stakes.
“I think we are made for this,” Eric Gordon assures. “We are a very good team, we stay calm. We are here to face the storm and we have a good group”. For Buddy Hield, “You have to stay humble, watch the videos, fight and rest” because “It's going to be a dog fight. They move the ball well and they're big competitors. It's a privilege to be here, and we're making memories for life.”
Speaking of “dogfights”, we can expect a physical challenge against Spain, and Eric Gordon acknowledges that the NBA should take inspiration from FIBA basketball. Maybe with a little more physical play” he answers. “Sometimes it goes a little too far, but overall it's good basketball.”
Buddy Hield has similar impressions about the rules of international basketball.
“I love most of them. Just the three-second rule. You can stay a little longer, and it’s harder for the offense. But FIBA is good. They have their rules, and you adapt. It’s fun. You can’t complain about it. You just have to adapt, and that’s what’s great.”
