The FEB has been working for weeks on the express nationalizationnothing easy on the other hand, of the American point guard Lorenzo Brown, 31 years. Although the decision has caused some suspicion in some national basketball circles, it has been activated because the other two players who have participated more recently as naturalized in the National Team, Serge Ibaka and Nikola Mirotic, have not given inputs positive with a view to the Eurobasket which starts for Spain, current bronze medal in 2017, on September 1 in Georgia. Serge Ibaka (Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, 1989) He has not participated with the National Team since the 2014 World Cup and Mirotic, since the 2016 Games. The FEB lost track of Ibaka years ago. Scariolo tried to resume the bond when he was with the Raptors but failed to recruit him for the 2019 World Cup in China. He also did not go to the Tokyo Games due to back problems.
with mirotic (February 11, 1991, Podgorica, Montenegro) there was more hope after his return to Europe. The current Euroleague MVP decided not to attend the World Cup in China after signing for Barça in 2019. At the FEB his decision was understood because it was a hectic summer for Mirotic, who did not accept an offer from Utah Jazz at the last minute and said yes to Nacho RodrÃguez, then general manager of the Barça basketball section, who got his signing in an excellent strategic move. Mirotic also decided not to be in Tokyo last year for powerful personal reasons. He needed the summer to be close to his family after a difficult time and the FEB understood it as he could not be otherwise. Jorge Garbajosa and Sergio Scariolo hoped that this year things would be different and Mirotic would take a step forward to lead the National Team in the Eurobasket. For now, however, it has not done it and in the FEB they are pessimisticalthough they always leave the door open to a change in the player’s decision. mirotic has lostnevertheless, some of the players with whom he felt more in tune, such as Pau Gasol.
Time is pressing for the FEB, which not only is not certain that Ibaka or Mirotic will attend the Eurobasket, but also has the casualties, very sensitive, of Ricky Rubioabsolute leader of the Selection, and Sergio Rodriguezwho decided to withdraw from the national team. Scariolo has Llull to play as a point guard and players like Abalde have shown that they can also act there on time. But I know they need more guarantees, hence the Lorenzo Brown option has been activated. Staying competitive is key and it is inevitable not to look at the example of Slovenia with Randolph in 2017 or Tobey in the past Games. If Mirotic or Ibaka still do not respond positively, the FEB will try to accelerate the nationalization of Lorenzo Brown as much as possible.