Even if he prefers avoid commenting on individual cases of eligibility ”, Andreas Zagklis says “ understand the question “. The FIBA Secretary General was invited, by BasketNewsto express oneself about the desire to Klay Thompson to join the Bahamas selection for future international competitions.
A desire that raises questions as the Warriors fullback has already worn the “Team USA” jersey in the past.
“ The rule is that if you played after the age of 17 (with a team), you cannot change, unless specific circumstances warrant your change and you return to your home country. There we will look at several criteria, and one of them is the time since you played for the other country “, displays the manager.
In this case, Klay Thompson has not played with Team USA in official competition since the 2016 Olympic Games. I’m indirectly trying to answer your question. But I don’t want to say exactly how we handled this or that case, and how we will handle another case in the future. “, continues Andreas Zagklis, while FIBA has already had to take a position on a similar case in recent weeks, that of Eric Gordon.
The U.S.-born guard was allowed to play with the Bahamas under the exceptions provided in Article 22 of the FIBA Rules, under which a player can change his selection if it is ” in the best interests of basketball » and the player participates in the “ development » of a national selection. An authorization with direct consequences because the Suns rookie played a key role in his team’s victory in the pre-Olympic tournament.
In all cases this remains at the discretion of the Secretary General of the Federation. “ Yes, we are concerned to the extent that we cannot use this exception, which falls within the discretionary power of a secretary general, to open Pandora’s box. I have exercised this power with great caution and will continue to do so », Defends Andreas Zagklis, who has therefore not yet ruled on the Klay Thomspon case.
