Banchero's agent: 'Paolo would like to play for both Italy and USA' / News - Basketnews.com

Banchero's agent Mike Miller said Banchero wishes he could represent both Italy and the United States, even though that's impossible.

Credit: USA Today Sports – Scanpix Credit USA Today Sports – Scanpix

Paolo Banchero wants to play with a national team at some point. However, the 20-year-old forward is still unclear whether he wants to join the United States or Italy.

Paolo Banchero

MIN:33.74PTS:19.96 (52.72%)REB:6.9As:3.74ST:0.83BL:0.54TO:2.78GM:72ProfileNBA2022/2023

Banchero's agent Mike Miller said Banchero wishes he could represent both countries, but that the young forward knows that isn't possible.

"For a youngster like Paolo, it is always good to have different options," Miller said to Sky Sport, as reported by Tuttosport.

"He would like to play for both national teams, but he knows very well he can’t do it. So he will have to make a decision but we don’t know when that will be," he continued.

"It could take 2 days or 3 months. At the moment we are not saying yes or no to the possibility of playing in the World Cup, it will never be a choice against one NT or the other."

Miller, 43, said Banchero's side will get in touch with Italy because they "owe it to them."

"Paolo has had two meetings with Grant Hill for Team USA. He must ponder well a decision that will have an impact on him for the next 15-20 years," he concluded.

Apart from Banchero, Italy are also considering the cases of Baskonia's Darius Thompson and Portland Trail Blazers big man Drew Eubanks. Thompson is married to an Italian woman, and he's expected to receive his full Italian citizenship soon. He might even become available for Italy in time for the World Cup.

Eubanks was born in Mississippi but grew up in Oregon and has now played for 6 seasons in the NBA. He has Italian roots in his family, although it remains to be seen if it'll be enough to receive a passport, sources have told BasketNews.

While it's highly unlikely that Eubanks will be available soon for Italy, he might become a solid option moving forward, especially if Banchero and Thompson, for different reasons, wouldn't be able to join the national team.

Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.