Will Klay Thompson consider playing for Bahamas?

Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson is proud of what his fellow NBA stars Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton, and Eric Gordon achieved in the recent FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament as The Bahamas took down Argentina, 82-75.

This means the Argentina men's basketball team will miss the Olympics for the first time in more than two decades.

"I couldn't be more proud of what they have accomplished in the past few weeks, especially Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton, Eric Gordon, and the rest of the Bahamians," Thompson, who is of Bahamian descent, said in a press conference on Thursday.

"Those guys have their biggest win in our country's history, as far as beating Argentina twice on their home soil. Not an easy task. Argentina is one of the best teams in the world."

However, will Thompson also suit up for The Bahamas?

"When that time comes, I will give it serious condition just because of what The Bahamas has meant for the Thompson family, especially my father. He never had a chance to play for the national team because they didn't have the chance back in the '70s or the '80s," Thompson shared to the media.

Klay Thompson talks about Team USA’s performance in the #FIBAWC and about basketball in Bahamas @gmasportsph @gmanews pic.twitter.com/BDaa9HN7Ww

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) August 31, 2023

"Now my brother is coaching with them is also very cool but right now, I'm really focused on the season. When that time comes, next summer, I'll give it consideration."

Thompson previously played for Team USA during the 2014 FIBA World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics.

FIBA rules for players of two nationalities state "Any player who has played (i.e. appeared on the Final Team Delegation Roster) in a main official competition of FIBA (including a FIBA 3x3 Competition) for a national team for which the player is eligible is considered as having chosen the national team of that country."

However, it also has a clause saying, "A player who has played for a national team in a main official competition of FIBA after having reached his or her seventeenth birthday may not play for a national team of another country. However, in exceptional circumstances the Secretary General may authorise such a player to play for the national team of another country if the change is in the best interest of basketball."

Thompson is in Manila along with Kevon Looney for a series of events organized by sports brand Anta.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News