NBA star Mo Bamba, currently playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, has made a significant decision that resonates with his roots and heritage. Born in New York City to Ivorian parents, Bamba has committed to representing Cote d'Ivoire, his country of origin, in all FIBA basketball competitions.
Last Updated on
May 14, 2024
Ayo Biyibi
Staff Writer
Amidst a trend of basketball players of African descent opting to represent countries they may have limited connections with, whether ethnically or nationally, 2018 NBA first-round draft pick and current Philadelphia 76ers center Mo Bamba has chosen to go against this tide. He recently announced his decision to represent his country of origin, Cote d'Ivoire, in FIBA competitions.
Despite being born and raised in Harlem, New York to Ivorian parents moved to the United States several years before his birth, Bamba's commitment to his ancestral roots was solidified during a special ceremony earlier this week when he presented with his Ivorian International Passport, by Metch Adjé Silas, Cote d'Ivoire's Minister for Sports and Culture.
Before becoming the first-ever Ivorian drafted into the NBA, Mo Bamba spent a season at the University of Texas at Austin playing for the Longhorns. In 2022, he collaborated with the Ivorian Basketball Federation on a renovation project for two basketball courts in Abobo, Abidjan, the former capital of Côte d'Ivoire.
At the 2022 ceremony commemorating the opening of the renovated basketball courts, Mo Bamba, showcasing his dedication, made an early declaration of his commitment to represent his nation on the court:
It’s a dream is my dream and I hope one day to be able to play for my country.”
According to local reports, Bamba is currently in Cote d'Ivoire alongside the national team, actively engaging in preparations for the Zone 3 nation's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament matches, which will take place in Puerto Rico this July. There, they will compete against formidable opponents such as Lithuania and Mexico.
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