By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Since Ian Mahinmi is having what is without a doubt the best season of his career in the NBA so far, averaging 9.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a starting center for the Indiana Pacers, it is expected that he will at least make the cut for the French national team’s preliminary squad, ahead of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
As is the case with most athletes, playing in the Olympic Games is a major ambition for the 29-year old center. “It would be a dream come true” he said to FIBA’s official website. “It would be great to have an opportunity to play and compete in Rio this summer. I would never say no to this kind of opportunity and things are going to be clearer at the end of the NBA season”.
With such a good season added to his resume, offers are going to pile up on Mahinmi’s table. After all, he is becoming a free agent this summer. Will that affect his possible participation in his country’s national team? “Everybody knows that the tournament (OQT) is going to be around the same period as the beginning of free agency so it is a different situation from what we have been used to in the past. We are going to find a solution at the end of the NBA season.”
The French big man appears to be fully aware of the difficulties behind Olympic Qualifying Tournament. “All the teams that are going to Manila are very competitive. Canada, Turkey and the other teams can play very good basketball. It’s going to be a tough fight, but I think Les Bleus have a lot of chances to have a good tournament. There is no other solution than going to the Philippines and winning the OQT.”