By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Kendrick Nunn was presented as ready to play for Turkiye as a naturalized player, according to a report by Basketfaul which has already been denied.
According to the report the Turkish Basketball Federation, TBF, initiated the necessary process for the Chicago native to gain citizenship and from there represent the country in international competitions. Still both coach Ergin Ataman and Nunn’s agent Giorgos Panou have denied the rumor.
Seeking a berth in the 2025 EuroBasket, Turkiye carries a 1-1 record in Group B of the Qualifiers.
Ataman’s side faces Hungary at home on November 22 and on the road on November 25. A home contest versus Italy and a visit to Iceland complete the double-legged round-robin schedule in February. The top three countries of the group will advance to the final stage.
At Panathinaikos, Ataman and Nunn will continue to work together, looking to defend the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and Greece’s Stoiximan Basket League championships during the 2024-25 campaign.
Joining the Greens in late October, after 212 games played in the NBA, Nunn averaged 16.0 points per contest over 35 EuroLeague appearances, including 27 starts. He added 13.9 points per game in the domestic league.
As a teenager, Nunn represented the United States and captured a gold medal in the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship and the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.