2024-04-16 19:18:11
With the NBA regular season over, the Memphis Grizzlies winger is turning his full attention to his summer plans with the Spanish national team. After failing to qualify for the playoffs with the Memphis club, the winger plans to join his country’s national team in the Olympic qualifiers.
“I am excited about the opportunity to represent my country’s national team,” said S. Aldama in an interview with “La Familia”. “We will have to play in the Olympic qualifiers, so we know it will be a challenge, but we believe we have a great team to go to and be competitive in the Olympics.”
The Spaniards, led by Sergio Scariolo, the most titled FIBA tournament coach of all time, will play the selection at home in Valencia, where they will host the national teams of Angola, Bahamas, Lebanon, Poland and Finland from July 2-7. The qualifiers will join Group A in Paris, where they will be joined by Australia and Canada.
“This is my summer priority,” said the tall player, who finished his third season in the NBA, about the Spanish national team. S. Aldama made his debut in the national team at last year’s World Championship, and also previously represented his country in youth tournaments, where in 2019 he won a gold medal at the FIBA U18 European Championship and was recognized as the most valuable player of the championship.
The 23-year-old forward played in 61 games this NBA season, during which he averaged 26.5 minutes and collected 10.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. The Spaniard missed the Grizzlies’ final six regular-season games with a foot injury, but the injury is not serious and he will be fully ready to play in Olympic qualifiers.
2024-04-16 19:18:11