By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
After years of failing to meet expectations, Croatia made it to the Round of 16 and has a good chance of qualifying for the Eurobasket quarterfinals. And Jaleen Smith is a big part of that.
So far the naturalized point guard averages 11 points, 2,6 rebounds, and 4,8 assists, providing something much needed on a roster that includes among others Bojan Bogdanovic, Mario Hezonja, Ivica Zubac, and Dario Saric: Playmaking abilities.
However, his presence in the national team of a country with a rich and long basketball tradition, turned some heads, like it’s the case with many naturalized players. Smith is fully aware of this situation and he can’t but cope with a smile: “If a country wants to bring you in why not take the opportunity to do that? I didn’t know where Croatia is, this was my first time in Croatia”
This quote may sound weird, but also echoes what Mike Tobey said to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon when asked when it was the first time he heard of Slovenia: “When they asked me to get a passport.”
It’s a totally honest answer on something that has created a lot of stir so far this summer. Lorenzo Brown who is the naturalized point guard of Spain having renounced his US citizenship to do so, but also has no prior ties to the country, also admitted that after finishing on top of Group A “we got this weight off our shoulders, especially mine”.
Meanwhile, players like Dee Bost with no prior connection to the countries they ended up playing, became part of their basketball lore, and even when they retire from the national team as he did after failing to qualify with Bulgaria to the Round of 16, creating a moment of legacy and love.
First I would like to thank my teammates, coaches and everyone who was apart of me becoming a naturalized Bulgarian player. Tonight was officially my last game competing in all competitions. I’m thankful forever for you accepting me with open arms. ❤🇧🇬 love forever
— Dee Bost (@1DEEBOST) September 7, 2022
Getting a passport may start as a trade-off. Players from the US get citizenship that gives them EU status in domestic leagues. On the other hand, national teams get a boost on their specific on-court needs.
The counter opinion is that when you do this, you dilute the essence of the national team, as Croatian coach Neven Spahja said to Mozzarsport: “I am against the participation of foreigners in the national teams, it has no basis in my opinion. But if it is already allowed and if everyone, the public, the media, and the players, has decided that he should play, then fine. Smith is certainly an upgrade for our national team and he has given quality and height”.
And here’s where things start to get tricky. Tyler Dorsey is playing for the Greek national team as naturalized per FIBA rules, despite having a Greek origin because of his mother. Coach Spahja mentioned him also as an example but he wasn’t aware of the ancestry. In a global environment, things tend to mix up easily.
Ignas Brazdeikis was born in Kaunas, raised in Canada, and played for the junior national teams of Canada. He wanted to play also for Lithuania but this wasn’t possible until the constitution of the country was changed and he was permitted to have dual citizenship and FIBA approved him as a member of the country he was born and not raised.
That’s why FIBA got what they considered an honourable compromise, considering how many members of immigrant communities in the US have turned out to be basketball players and have tied with countries all over the world.
As FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis explained: “The central board has discussed this many times and has concluded that this balance between a strict rule of 11 and a rule that allows one naturalized player is the correct balance and we have no intention to change this rule”.
Still, don’t expect the debate to end, especially next summer when Joel Embiid is expected to play for the first time in FIBA competitions as a member of the French national team.