By RENALDO DORSETT
Sports Reporter
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE a 14-year NBA career which included two NBA titles, and watching his sons win their own respective titles in the NBA and the NBA Development League this season, Bahamian basketball icon Mychal “Sweet Bells” Thompson said there is one regret that remains from his days on the hardwood.
“I have been so blessed and I have done a lot of positive things in basketball but there is one thing that has haunted me since I retired. I think some of the former Bahamian basketball legends know what I mean and even some of the current players can identify with, there was one major regret - I never had the chance to represent this great country on the basketball court,” Thompson said, “If I can go back that’s the one thing I would change.”
His statements came as the Mychal “Sweet Bells” Thompson Boulevard was officially unveiled at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre on Thursday night. The route stretches from Thompson Boulevard at the entrance of the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium and covers the road that extends to the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.
While he never had the opportunity, Thompson said his dream is to one day see the Bahamas basketball team qualify for the Olympic Games.
“No matter how old you get we always have a dream or two left in us and one major dream I have is someday, I’m thinking at the 2020 Olympics, in the gold medal game, USA 91, Bahamas 92,” he said.
“The Bahamas has some players coming up. If it continues to get better and continues to grow who knows what can happen, we have the talent to succeed at the international level.”
Thompson beckoned all players with Bahamian heritage to embrace the opportunity to play for the national team, including those in attendance, Eric Gordon of the New Orleans Pelicans and Thompson’s sons, Klay - the All-Star for the Golden State Warriors and Mychel who recently played in the D-League.
He also referenced rising stars on the NCAA level, such as Buddy Hield, and at the high school level, like DeAndre Ayton, who will lead Bahamian basketball into the future.
Mychel, who recently won a title with the Santa Cruz Warriors, signed a contract last week to take his talents to Italy and suit up for Pallacanestro Varese in Italy’s Lega Serie A.
After registering as a Bahamian citizen in 2014, he joined the Bahamian national team for the Centrobasket tournament in Nayarit, Mexico.
He was the second leading scorer on the team with 9.2 points and grabbed 4.5 rebounds per game.
The 27-year-old swingman said he plans to continue his stint on Bahamian national teams.
“It’s always great being in the Bahamas it feels like home, so whenever I get out here, it’s always good to be here,” he said. “I played on one national team, I’m planning on playing on another one as of now, as long as I stay healthy, I’ll be ready and I’ll be back.”
Klay, 25, is currently a member of USA Basketball.
The All-Star guard has participated with the USA and won gold medals at the FIBA U19 World Championships and the 2014 FIBA World Cup, but has not ruled out the possibility of playing for Team Bahamas.
“I’d love to play with my brother, I’d love to represent the country,” he said. “There’s so many good athletes coming out of this country so it’s definitely something I will have to think about.”
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