Eurobasket outsiders Sweden will have been boosted by the news that Detroit Pistons’ forward Jonas Jerebko will play for the national team in Slovenia this summer.
Sweden qualified for their first Eurobasket since hosting the event in 2003 and go into this summer’s event as underdogs. The Swedes are housed in the seaside town of Koper alongside Russia, Greece, Turkey, Italy and neighbours Finland in Group D.
Speaking to the Swedish Basketball Federation, Jerebko spoke of his excitement in competing as well as representing Sweden as they return to Eurobasket for the first time in ten years.
“It will be a lot of fun to go to the Eurobasket and compete against the best teams in Europe,” Jerebko stated.
I am at home in Sweden and taking it easy now, next week I will go back to the U.S. and start training again.”The schedule is not entirely clear yet, but I will probably go to Las Vegas [for the NBA summer league] and train with other NBA pros later.”
One thing Jerebko has said is that despite being outsiders, the team knows each other incredibly well. The forward hasn’t played with Charlotte Bobcats rookie Jeffery Taylor, who earlier last month confirmed his availability for Eurobasket as well.
“I have played against Jeff in the NBA, him and I have talked a bit during the season about playing at the Eurobasket, so now it will be fun to play with him, too,” Jerebko said.
The Pistons forward helped Sweden qualify for this summer’s tournament with averages of 20.3 points and 6.6 rebounds a game.
