Shabazz Napier will be one of three Puerto Rican shipowners in the upcoming FIBA ​​window

the shipowner Shabazz Napier had his first training session with the National Team this afternoon with a view to representing Puerto Rico in the FIBA ​​window, the president of the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation reported.

The practice session is confirmation of his intention to participate with Puerto Rico in the FIBA ​​window that begins Wednesday at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum.

“He’s practicing and he’s very positive, excited to represent Puerto Rico, hungry to show what he can do at FIBA,” said Puerto Rico Basketball Federation President Yum Ramos.

Napier is one of three shipowners who practiced today with the National Team. The other two are José Juan Barea e Ivan Gandia.

Napier trained with the National Team at some point in the last Olympic cycle, but has not yet made his debut with the team in an international tournament.

If he finally makes his debut in both games this week, he would make his first international commitment in the FIBA ​​environment. The son of a Puerto Rican named Carmen Velázquez, Napier flirted with playing for Puerto Rico after his college career with the University of Connecticut, with which he won two NCAA national sceptres in 2011 and 2014. However, as he completed his four-year career with the championship, his value increased as a prospect for the NBA and he seemed to put playing for Puerto Rico in the background.

Following his college career, Napier jumped into the NBA as the 24th overall pick in the first round of this year’s rookie draw. Claimed by the Charlotte Hornets, the same night of the draft he was traded to the Miami Heat, with whom he debuted in the league. Subsequently he has played for Orlando, Portland, Brooklyn, Minnesota and Washington. He is currently unemployed in the NBA.

Napier arrives in Puerto Rico with free agent status. Ramos said Napier looked physically good. Other NBA free agents who will also be active here to play in the window are Joe Johnson and Isaiah Thomas, who will play with the United States.

Ramos reported that this Sunday he held a meeting with Napier, in which he thanked him for his intention to finally make his debut with the National Team.

“All the protocol tests were done for him and everything is in order. I thanked him for coming to the country, that we are in charge, that we have a great plan with a vision for the future, that what he needs we are for him. “Ramos said.

Napier’s first matches with Puerto Rico will be against the Bahamas and Mexico.

Ramos gave Carlos Arroyo the credit for Napier’s appearance through this window and added that Arroyo also began talks with the owner to participate in the calls that the National Team will make this summer with a view to the pre-Olympic in Serbia.

Arroyo is a recruiter of the National Team between hours functions.

“The conversations took place with Carlos Arroyo, As a recruiter and listener. There was talk of this window and repechage. Obviously, we go tournament to tournament. Let’s see how this one goes. But the plans are for him to be in the playoffs, “he said.

The Olympic playoffs will be in June in Serbia. The national leader, Eddie Casiano, Has said he expects a broad call-up for the playoffs.

His presence with Puerto Rico is a “got” for the Federation that has been years, by several administrations, trying to recruit players of Napier’s profile for the National Team, Ramos said.

“It shows the commitment we have to the national program to be among the top 12 or 10 in the world, to raise our level of play,” Ramos said.

And his commitment can serve as a magnet for players with contracts in the NBA and therefore elusive so far to play with the National Team to join the quintet.

“It’s speculative, but you could say we hope so,” Ramos said. “We go step by step with other players who integrate to have a competitive Puerto Rico, to have good representation.”

Puerto Rico has been behind players like Maurice Harkless, From the Miami Heat, i Jonathan Isaac, From the Magic of Orlando. Devin Booker, Of the Phoenix Suns, is another that Puerto Rico has contacted. Markus Howard, Of the Denver Nuggets, is also on that list, and in fact his brother Jordan played with the Guayama Wizards in the BSN ‘bubble’.

Carmelo Anthony was in contact with Puerto Rico before deciding to play for the United States.