Is that Kobe? Fans seem to have had a blast in the past after seeing a basketball player hooping in the World Cup who looks like the late Kobe Bean Bryant. The guy moves like the Black Mamba and even wore the No.24! That baller is no other than the former NBA player Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Drafted in 2015, Hollis-Jefferson only lasted for a while in the NBA. After jumping from team to team in the league, the young athlete took his talents overseas. He was once an import in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) while playing for TNT Tropang Giga in February 2023. But, in this year’s World Cup, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is a man on a mission – to bring victory to Jordan. With his impressive display on the international stage, should he be in the NBA again?
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is an international star
After transferring from one league to another, Hollis-Jefferson was called up by Jordan and played for the nation in the World Cup as a naturalized player. In two games, Hollis-Jefferson is averaging a jaw-dropping 31.5 ppg and even tallied a tournament-high 39 points against the New Zealand Tall Blacks. Wearing No.24, we can say he is channeling his inner Kobe.
Unfortunately, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the country of Jordan would be in the same group as Greece, New Zealand, and the USA, which makes it very difficult for them to even advance to the second round. After losing their first two games, they’re going to be eliminated. But, on the positive side, we saw how great Hollis-Jefferson played on the international stage. This brings us to the question …
Should Rondae Hollis-Jefferson be in the NBA again?
Hollis-Jefferson, 28, was drafted 23rd overall in 2015 by the Portland Trailblazers. Although his rookie season wasn’t exactly a great start, he slowly emerged into a good 3-and-D role player. His best season would be in 2017-2018, when he averaged 13.9 points, 2.5 assists, and 6.8 rebounds for the Brooklyn Nets.
In 2021, the University of Arizona standout would play his last NBA game with the team that drafted him. Hollis-Jefferson would be called to a 10-day contract but was never guaranteed anything after that. Later, he would play overseas, like in Turkey, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, and now as a member of the Jordan National team. Despite being quickly eliminated, we can’t deny how effective he played in the World Cup. His efficiency and overall output even topped other NBA players representing their respective countries.
Because of that, we could assume some NBA teams are already discussing taking another chance at Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. His skills are definitely perfect in today’s basketball, and he could be a great addition to any contender. We said the same about a former NBA player returning to the league after an impressive run overseas – Dante Exum. The former 2014 5th overall pick agreed to join the Dallas Mavericks after bringing a championship to the Partizan in the ABA league.
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