Nigeria is set to lose the race to get Femi Bam Adebayo of Miami Heat to play for the country.
The Miami Heat centre is one of the best players in the NBA with a stellar showing for his side and that has attracted the Nigeria Basketball Federation who are mulling over the decision to officially approach him on the possibility of playing for the country.
He is averaging 15.8 points in 39 games played so far this season with the Heat second in the East.
The forward was overlooked by the United State ahead of the last World Cup in China but the bad news for Nigeria is that the Dream Team selectors are thinking about giving him the opportunity in the US team this time.
Head Coach Greg Popovich said the Nigerian-born player wasn’t ready for the Dream Team last year but he gave a hint on his readiness to hand the player opportunity soon.
The 22-year-old was pained he didn’t make the cut to China and his comments meant he is not thinking about representing his parents’ country in international competitions.
Adebayo admitted that losing out on a roster spot to Brook Lopez and Miles Plumlee left him with a “bigger chip on my shoulder.”
“Obviously no man wants to get cut, so I take it personally but it’s not the reason I am doing what I am doing.”
