Klаy Thоmpsоn is аnticipаteԀ tо be useԀ by the Bаhаmаs Bаsketbаll FeԀerаtiоn аs pаrt оf the men’s nаtiоnаl bаsketbаll teаm’s trаining cаmp in оrԀer tо be reаԀy fоr the оlympic quаlifier thаt tаkes plаce next mоnth.
Thompson, the Bahamian-born son of Los Angeles Lakers player Mychal “Sweet Bells” Thompson, a two-time National Basketball Association champion, is anticipated to be a member of the club when training camp begins today in Houston, Texas.
In the upcoming weeks, shooting guard #Klay Thompson—who has four championships with the Golden State Warriors—is anticipated to test the free agency waters.
Thаt being sаiԀ, Thоmpsоn hаs mаԀe the Ԁecisiоn tо prоviԀe his suppоrt becаuse Chris ԀeMаrcо, аn аssistаnt cоаch fоr GоlԀen Stаte, is currently the heаԀ cоаch оf the Bаhаmаs men’s squаԀ.
#The national team is preparing to play in Pool B of the last Olympic qualifier in Valencia, Spain, from July 2–7, against Finland and Poland. This training camp is the next step on the Road to Olympics 24.
#The 34-year-old Thompson competed for Team USA in the 2016 Olympics, where he took home a gold medal. However, he consistently brought up the subject of representing the Bahamas in honor of his father, who competed in the NBA for 935 games between 1978 and 1991 and was a two-time champion while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
It is not anticipated that #Thompson will be cleared to play in the Olympic qualifiers and future competition for Team Bahamas; instead, he will need to acquire an official release from USA Basketball and approval from FIBA.
The Bahamian national team will travel to Greece on June 25 and June 27 for two exhibition games against Montenegro and Greece, respectively. On June 27, the squad may play against Giannis Antetokounmpo. On July 2, the team will compete in an Olympic qualification competition in Spain.
While other NBA players Chavano “Buddy” Hield of the Philadelphia 76ers, Deandre Ayton of the Portland Trail Blazers, Eric Gordon of the Phoenix Suns, and Kai Jones of the Los Angeles Clippers have already announced that they will participate in the qualifier, Thompson has not.
Rising talents VJ Edgecombe, Donnie Freeman, and Deyton Albury are also scheduled to compete; they are getting ready to represent Baylor, Syracuse, and Ranger College, respectively, at the NCAA level.
Additionally, AJ Storr from Kansas and Naz Reid from the Minnesota Timberwolves are being considered for the team. However, as of last night’s press deadline, team management had not yet disclosed the actual roster.
At the Estadio Ciudad in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, last August, #The Bahamas, headed by Hield, Gordon, and Ayton, secured their spot in the Olympic Qualifier by winning the Americas Pre-Olympic Qualifier and defeating host Argentina, one of the world’s best teams.