3 weeks ago
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Jamaica men’s basketball team will tip off their FIBA Basketball World Cup pre-qualifiers in Mexico on Friday against Barbados, and coach Rick Turner, although not sharing a lot of details about his team, disclosed that they will build their game around NBA champion and team leader Norman Powell.
The 32-year-old Powell, who won the NBA title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors, is currently a Miami Heat player. He averaged an impressive 21 points per game for the LA Clippers last term, and Turner said they will lean on the experienced shooting guard to lead them over the three matches in Mexico.
“Everything we do will be built around Norman Powell. He is a great player and has been a great leader so far.
“We have a tall, athletic team that is going to defend, run and play a fun style of basketball. That’s the idea,” he said.
Turner admitted that the players are still getting to know each other and their games, and that time together in camp will greatly improve their team chemistry.
“What is important is the time spent together. We will practise Monday (today) and Tuesday and leave on Wednesday (for Mexico), and practise again on Thursday.
“We are going to keep working and get better and learn about each other, put things in, and talk about things that are important and see what happens on Friday.”
Jamaica open their account in Group A against Barbados, before taking on Costa Rica on Saturday and closing out against hosts Mexico on Sunday.
The top two teams from the group will move into the qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar. Turner said their only intention is to win and advance.
“We are going there to win, that is what we are hoping to accomplish. We are trying to win three games against Barbados, Costa Rica and Mexico.
“The players are confident with respect to the opponents we have to play. But we know we are playing three very good teams and we will have to play our best in order to beat them. But things have been going really good. The guys have been working hard; and we are just working, as we are three days away,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Powell, who is in camp with the rest of the Jamaica squad in Florida, said he looks forward to representing Jamaica and learning from and about his teammates and what it means to represent the Caribbean nation.
“For me, I’m excited to put this Jamaican uniform on. I will wear it with pride and go out and give a hundred per cent.
“I can see the passion in the players, talking to them, learning about them and their upbringing, and what it means to them to play for team Jamaica and represent.
“So for me, it’s all about pride and laying it on the line, and going out and representing the country, putting our best foot forward and learn and grow and push Jamaica basketball another step forward for the next generation,” Powell said.
English (US) ·