Former Spartan hooper Tum Tum Nairn looks to help Bahamas qualify for Olympics
By Kaleb Kraus
![Mar 16, 2018; Detroit, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. (11) moves down the court in the first half against the Bucknell Bison in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports Mar 16, 2018; Detroit, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Lourawls Nairn Jr. (11) moves down the court in the first half against the Bucknell Bison in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4536,h_2551,x_0,y_68/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/137/01j1r63gh771vt9j1ap0.jpg)
It's official, former Michigan State guard and current Bowling Green assistant coach Tum Tum Nairn Jr. will have a chance to play basketball again.
Nairn was officially named to the Bahamian National Basketball team, as the Bahamas will try to qualify for the Paris Olympic games in basketball for the first time.
Can Bahamas 🇧🇸 pull another upset after last summer? 🤩#FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/N3K7SgOIzi
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 1, 2024
He will have plenty of great support alongside him, with NBA talent also on the roster. He will be joined by the likes of Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield, and Eric Gordon.
The team will be a part of the Olympic Qualifiers in Valencia, Spain. They have a tall task ahead with Spain, Finland, Poland, Angola, and Lebanon also at that site.
Nairn hasn't appeared to have lost his step, even with being a coach now instead of a regular everyday basketball player. Still for him to have the opportunity to represent his home country on the basketball court is special.
It has been a busy time for Tum, especially with him now being the lead assistant coach under the head coach for the Falcons.
I'm happy to see Tum Tum getting to play ball again. He will always be one of my favorite Spartan basketball players, and I certainly hope he and the Bahamas can reach the Olympic Games.
His heart and dedication to the sport has always been impressive.
The qualifiers begin on Tuesday, where Nairn and the Bahamas open play against Finland. That won't be an easy first game. But the Bahamas made plenty of noise last summer to get this chance, and they should have a great chance to make some magic happen.
They have been trying for so long to make it happen. So good luck to the Spartan Dawg.