By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Partizan Belgrade star guard and newly appointed captain Kevin Punter would very much welcome a potential opportunity to join the Serbian national team as a naturalized player.
“I heard some speculation that it could happen,” Punter said in an interview for Novosti, per Mozzart Sport. The American-born player recently received a Serbian passport. “If the invitation does come, I’m open to that possibility. Of course, it would cut into my free time between seasons, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I would be the first American in the history of the Serbian national team and I’d be happy to participate.”
Serbia is the only country in the Yugoslav region that hasn’t used a naturalized player so far. In the most recent EuroBasket, Slovenia featured center Mike Tobey, Montenegro had guard Kendrick Perry, Bosnia and Herzegovina used guard John Roberson, while Croatia acquired guard Jaleen Smith.
Punter averaged 16.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season in the 2021-22 EuroCup, along with 12.1 points, 3.1 assists and 2.4 rebounds in the ABA League. He’s returning to EuroLeague this season, together with Partizan.