I believe that once you have represented your country at a sanctioned FIBA tournament for one country there is no turning back. Maybe if you forfeit that passport??

It is a bit like soccer that why often in tournaments you cap or give a young player a game to ensure they can't play for another country in the future in they develop into a super star!

This whole topic was raised with Kyrie Irving. You need to get permission from the country you have represented to get released and then FIBA have the final say if you can then represent another country

I dont think the William Jones Cup counts. From memory it has to be an Olympics, WC or continental championship (senior or junior) to rule a player out from playing for another country.

That should say .. rule a player out from playing for another country unless they get permission from FIBA to do so.

I dont think a country necessarily has to be be a part of the EU, they could also be a member of FIBA Europe or in a country which has an agreement with the country youre a passport holder in, but I could be wrong on that one.

Re anon two above. If you have played in a major FIBA event and want to change countries one of the criteria is it has to be for the 'benefit of the game' in the country youre going to.

So in theory, leaving the USA to play for Spain wouldnt meet that stipulation, whereas going to a country like the UK probably would.

FIBA internal regulations state:

"Any player having played in a main official competition of FIBA for a national team for
which he is eligible is considered as having chosen the national team of that country,
with the exception of cases provided for under articles 3-23 and 3-34."

3-23 states: "A player who has played in a main official competition of FIBA (see article 2-1) after having
reached his seventeenth (17) birthday may not play for a national team of another country.
However, in exceptional circumstances the Secretary General may authorise such a
player to play for the national team of his country of origin if he is ineligible to play for
such country according to this article 3-23 and if this is in the interest of the development
9of basketball in this country. An administrative fee as stipulated in article 3-305 and
decided by the Secretary General is payable to FIBA."

3-34 states: "Decisions on marginal cases are the responsibility of the Secretary General following
consultation with the Chairman of the FIBA Legal Commission.
The same shall apply with respect to refugees enjoying asylum rights and displaced
persons (UN Conventions).
In certain cases, FIBA nationality may be granted to a player"

The "main official competition[s] of FIBA" are:

The main official competitions of FIBA are:
a. The Olympic Tournaments
b. The World Olympic Qualifying Tournaments for Men and Women
c. The FIBA World Championship for Men
d. The FIBA World Championship for Women
e. The FIBA U-19 World Championship for Men
f. The FIBA U-19 World Championship for Women
g. The FIBA U-17 World Championship for Men
h. The FIBA U-17 World Championship for Women
i. All Zone Championships
j. All qualifying games and tournaments for the above championships

FIBA regulations are on their web site, at http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/FIBA/ruleRegu/p/openNodeIDs/916/selNodeID/916/fibaRegu.html

Thankyou Peter John

If Australia is serious about getting Thon Maker they should put him in Australian under 17 team thus playing in a FIBA sanctioned event.