NBA stars Amen and Ausar Thompson were the centre of attention on Sunday morning at the S Hotel in Kingston, as the Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA) hosted a special meet and greet to welcome the brothers who are in the country to begin the process of acquiring their Jamaican passports—an important first step toward one day donning the black, green, and gold on the international basketball stage.
JABA President Paulton Gordon, speaking at the informal gathering, hailed the occasion as the culmination of years of dialogue with the Thompson family and a pivotal moment for the sport in Jamaica.
“I want to thank you all for taking the time to be here. I know it’s a Sunday morning, and I see a few tired faces—probably from some parties last night,” Gordon joked. “But I really appreciate that you made the effort to come hang out with us.”
He described the meeting as more than ceremonial—“just a chance to spend some time with the Thompsons, get to know them as people,” and noted that the family’s Jamaican roots run deep.
Gordon revealed that talks with the twins’ father, Troy Thompson, began nearly five years ago. “He’s a busy man—he’s in Montego Bay today, White House tomorrow, then back to the States—because he wears two hats: father and agent. But now, the timing is right.”
The Thompsons, both former Overtime Elite standouts and top-five picks in the 2023 NBA Draft, will visit the citizenship and passport offices on Monday to start formalising their Jamaican status. Their intent to represent Jamaica has sparked excitement, but Gordon was quick to manage expectations, citing a critical FIBA regulation that may delay their eligibility.
“Even though the Thompson twins have started the process of acquiring their Jamaican passports, they won’t be immediately eligible to represent the country because of a unique rule that FIBA, our global governing body, has in place,” he explained.
“FIBA requires players to have obtained their passports before the age of 16 in order to be eligible to represent that country in international play. And if you don’t, there’s a little bit of intrigue in how the process unfolds to get those players eligible.”
Gordon added that several countries—including the Philippines and Ivory Coast—are lobbying for the rule to be amended. “We currently have about 10 or 12 NBA players who are eager and keen to play for Jamaica, but because of that passport-before-16 rule, it’s not possible at this time.”
Still, the JABA president expressed optimism, pointing to other pathways to international competition, including the fast-growing 3x3 format. “The eligibility rules for 3x3 basketball are not as stringent as they are for full-court, so we do have a number of individuals interested in representing Jamaica at the 3x3 level—wearing the national jersey even at the 3x3 Championships.”
Beyond the spotlight on the Thompsons, Gordon used the moment to outline JABA’s broader vision. “There are two pillars we’re focused on: growing the sport from the grassroots and raising the visibility of Jamaican basketball on the global stage.”
He said the country is poised for an important summer of basketball, with NBA and European-based talent preparing to represent Jamaica in the FIBA pre-qualifying tournament set for August 8–10. That phase, Gordon noted, is expected to be followed by a home-and-away round in November, where Jamaica will host top Central American and Caribbean teams—an unprecedented step for local basketball in recent years.
At the grassroots level, Gordon reiterated JABA’s goal of having 60 primary schools actively participating in basketball over the next three years. “Basketball isn’t traditionally seen as a ‘mainstream’ sport in Jamaica. Most kids gravitate toward football, netball, or track and field. So we need a cultural shift.”
He recalled a conversation with Troy Thompson, who suggested simply installing backboards to let kids play. “And I said, ‘If we do that, they’re going to end up playing scrimmage on the court!’ We need programmes built around those courts—structured environments with guidance—so they understand this is a basketball space.”
Sunday’s event served as the symbolic launch of that effort. And while the Thompsons’ immediate availability for national duty may be constrained, Gordon made it clear: the movement has begun.
“Over the next few years, as we continue this movement, we want to ensure that players are well positioned to represent Jamaica if called upon,” he said.
With Amen and Ausar now firmly in the fold, that vision is one step closer to becoming reality.