Drew Gooden plans to suit up for Finland in the FIBA World Cup, according to a person with knowledge of Gooden’s intentions. Gooden, 32, is eligible to play for Finland because his mother is Finnish.
Finland, ranked 39th in the FIBA world rankings, is one of four wild cards in the World Cup, which is scheduled to begin in Bilbao, Spain, on Aug. 30. Finland’s first opponent in Group C play? The United States.
The World Cup will be Finland’s first worldwide FIBA competition.