2023-11-08 13:57:57
Megan Gustafson (Wisconsin, 1996) had only set foot in Spain to play in the Euroleague, a competition in which she was the top scorer last year playing with Olympiacos, and she also has no connection with Spanish basketball, neither with the clubs nor with the selections. A naturalization by nature letter last June has made it possible for the American from the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA and reference for the London Lions this campaign, to enter the plans of the team that won silver in the last Eurobasket.
Her debut will have to wait until at least the Pre-Olympic, since she is currently injured, although she is concentrated with the rest of the Spanish team in Madrid under the orders of Miguel Méndez. «From the moment she knew that she was going to play in Spain, she knew what she wanted to do (play in Paris 2024). I want to be part of something bigger than myself. Since I became a professional it has been difficult for me to find a home. Every year I am on a different team. In that sense, I am very excited to be able to have a long-term relationship with Spain,” said the 26-year-old, 1.90m tall center.
The new reinforcement of the European women’s basketball runner-up reveals that she does not know much about Spain, says she was right in her decision and regrets not having played with the team in the last Eurobasket, since despite having obtained nationality by decree, through the nature letter, one day before the start of the tournament last June, he was not included in the immediate plans but rather his incorporation counted for the current plan.
«We started the process in winter. I hoped I had arrived earlier and could have helped in the Eurobasket. But well, they did a great job, it was like an observation from afar,” said she, who was the fifth best rebounder in the Euroleague last season, with 9.4 catches per game. The now Spanish international will not be able to help the team in the duels it has against Croatia and Austria, but her scores will hopefully arrive for the next qualifying window for Eurobasket 2025. «It is a luxury to have her and we are waiting for her to be able to join the team. the games as soon as possible. She is going to contribute a lot of talent and a lot of quality,” highlighted Elisa Aguilar, president of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB).
His case is similar to that of Lorenzo Brown, national hero in the last Eurobasket in 2022, where Spain won gold in the final against France. A strong controversy broke out with the Roswell player about the convenience of promoting this type of express nationalizations. Despite having already nationalized players such as Nikola Mirotic or Serge Ibaka, both had a relationship with Spain prior to defending their shirt, something that did not happen with Brown, who only knew Spain from his visits to play Euroleague and Eurocup matches with his different clubs (Fenerbahçe, Red Star…). Sergio Scariolo was missing a point guard and Lorenzo arrived, who was nicknamed ‘from Albacete’. «The message that is sent to national players is very harmful and has a negative impact on both the present and the future. “Is it credible that the current world champion team does not find Spanish players with whom to compete in top-level international events?” denounced at the time the Association of Professional Basketball Players (ABP).
These nationalities by decree are a special measure (a dozen or twenty are granted a year), which is approved “when exceptional circumstances arise for the interested party,” says the rule. The key is, as with other discretionary measures, such as pardons, what each person understands as “exceptional circumstances.” Each government can choose whoever it wants and there are no objective scales to assess who deserves it and who does not, except in very limited situations, such as victims of terrorism, international brigade members or Sephardim, according to the BOE. Faced with the long processes to obtain nationality through ordinary means, this is automatic. One in four nationalized through this ‘fast track’ is an athlete, according to a Civio publication.
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