Brooklyn Nets guard Terance Mann recently disclosed that Ivica Zubac, his former Los Angeles Clippers teammate, attempted to persuade him to play for the Croatian national basketball team. Mann shared this revelation during an interview with Serbian media outlet Mozzart Sport, highlighting the close bond they share and the possibility of representing Croatia internationally.
Close Friendship and Past Team Experience Fuel the Recruitment
Mann spent his first six NBA seasons playing alongside Zubac in Southern California, forming a strong personal relationship. The Croatian big man, known for his successful career both in the NBA and overseas, expressed his desire to have Mann join the Croatian national team during a trip they shared in Croatia.
“Ivica is my brother. I love him. I went to Croatia on a trip—I love Croatia—and he tried to recruit me to play for their national team a few years ago,”
Mann said.
“That’s really my brother. We grew up together in Los Angeles.”
—Terance Mann, Brooklyn Nets Guard
Pathway to Croatian National Team Eligibility
Although Mann was born in Brooklyn, there remains a formal path for him to play for Croatia if he chooses. This would require obtaining Croatian citizenship, a process that could be expedited if the Croatian Basketball Federation (HKS) advocates on his behalf. Following this, Mann would need to meet the international basketball federation FIBA’s naturalization requirements and receive a formal invitation from HKS.
Once these steps are fulfilled, the HKS must submit an official request to FIBA to confirm his eligibility to represent Croatia during international competitions.
Comparisons and Likelihood of Mann’s Croatian Representation
This process echoes the route taken by Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, who secured citizenship to represent the United States at the 2024 Olympics. Despite the intriguing possibility, it seems unlikely that Mann will pursue Croatian citizenship soon after being traded from the Clippers, suggesting the recruitment story might have been more friendly teasing than a serious career move.
If Mann did choose to join the Croatian national team, he would contribute to the Brooklyn Nets’ already international roster, which features several first-round draft picks with experience playing for their home countries.