Hong Kong basketball chief to clubs: ‘Let us know whom to naturalise, and we’ll get them’
It has become popular in Asia in recent years to naturalise players, but Norman Chan says it is up to clubs to let him know who can qualify
The head of Hong Kong basketball says he would love to naturalise players to help boost the city’s poor record on the international stage, but does not know who might be eligible.
Norman Chan Shui-tim, chairman of the Basketball Association of Hong Kong, China, added that it was up to clubs to let him know who could qualify, and bemoaned the lack of professionalism domestically.
Naturalising players has become a popular approach across Asia in recent years, with Taiwan and the Philippines – who thrashed Hong Kong by 30 and 39 points, respectively, in last week’s Fiba Asia Cup Group B qualifiers – bringing Americans Brandon Gilbeck and Justin Brownlee on board.
Even China has sourced overseas talent in a bid to boost their flagging men’s programme, bringing in NBA star Kyle Anderson – who plays for the Golden State Warriors – for the Fiba World Cup last year.
“That is of course a great idea, except I had no idea who we can naturalise,” said Chan, who has been in charge of the governing body since 1991. “It depends on the local clubs providing us the names, or perhaps you could tell me who to proceed with.”
