International basketball competitions like EuroBasket feature complex eligibility rules that often determine which players can represent which countries. The term “naturalized player” appears frequently in tournament coverage, yet many fans remain unfamiliar with its specific meaning and implications.

FIBA classifies players into locals, dual citizens, and naturalized players, each with its own criteria. A passport before age 16 places a player in the local pool, while a passport after 16 means naturalized status. There is also a strict cap, since only one naturalized player can be on a 12-man roster for official competitions. All of this sets the stage for a rule that keeps shaping rosters every summer.

Basket News added fuel to the discussion this week with an Instagram post that ranke

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