Milwaukee Bucks star Pat Connaughton isn't ruling out future spot in Ireland set up

NBA Champion Pat Connaughton isn’t ruling out the possibility of playing for Ireland, while inspiring the next generation of Irish basketball players to make it to the world’s biggest stage alongside him.

Connaughton made the comments at the University of Galway, while hosting the first of three days of clinics with Basketball Ireland’s Academy. “I’d love to play over here,” said the 30-year-old. “I’d love to play for the Irish national team someday. Obviously for me, it’s what I’m allowed to do in the off-season based off of playing for the Milwaukee Bucks with our contracts and things of that nature, but being able to wear the Irish flag, with my last name, having citizenship, being 100% Irish, it’d be really cool to represent the country,” he added.

Learning from the very best, @pconnaughton ☘️ pic.twitter.com/0B24SuY6d0

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) August 21, 2023

Members of the Basketball Ireland Academy took part in the three-hour session with the Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard and members of the Pat Connaughton Foundation, with further clinics to take place in Limerick (UL Arena) on Wednesday and at the National Basketball Arena in Dublin on Friday.

“It’s awesome to be able to run clinics and help grow the game of basketball over here, starting in Galway, where my family is from. That is truly special. Basketball Ireland is doing a tremendous job of growing the game across the country and I’d just like to help that and continue to help these kids achieve their goals, whether that is playing college basketball in the United States or make it all the way to the NBA, being a small part of that would be really cool.”