DALIAN (FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - Navid Niktash raised plenty of eyebrows this season while playing for the British Basketball League's London Lions and now he'll be looking to do the same for Iran's national team.

The 26-year-old, a sweet-shooting 6ft 8in (2.03m) small forward, was recently named in Iran's traveling squad for a three-game tour of China.

If Niktash, a French-born Iranian, has the sort of eyebrow-raising moments that were common for him this season in the United Kingdom, there's a good chance he'll be with his national team at the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 in Beirut (August 8-20).

Just being invited to a recent Iran training camp was a thrill for Niktash.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," he said.

"I always wanted to play for the national team and now I'm here preparing and traveling with the team.

"I made my best efforts in the training camp to show my ability to the coach and my teammates, hopefully I can equally impress in China."

The games will be played in China this week in Dalian, Changchun and Ningbo.

Niktash hails from Western Europe yet he has paid close attention to Iranian basketball. The national side started making international headlines after winning the 2007 FIBA Asia Cup, an accomplishment that clinched a spot in the Beijing Olympics 2008.

Iran had a successful Asian title defense in 2009 and played at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2010 in Turkey. Following a shock defeat in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA Asia Cup 2011, Iran bounced back in 2013 to capture their third Asian crown.

The team was third at the FIBA Asia Cup 2015 in Changsha, China.

I'm a young player who wants to do his best to play for the national team and I would like to make the final cut for the FIBA Asia Cup 2017. But of course, that will depend on my performances in the China tournament.Niktash

Niktash knows all about the national team but also the domestic competition.

"Yes, I always follow the Iranian Super League and I came here with full knowledge of basketball in the country," he said.

"Iran has a very good league and a strong national team, great players with a great coach (Mehran Hatami). Iran is one of the best Asian basketball countries."

Niktash has the biggest opportunity of his career right now thanks to his exposure with the national team. He is in the shop window and there are a lot of clubs that would love to have him on their team. He says he would relish the chance to play professionally in Iran.

"Why not?" he said. "I'm currently a free agent and as I said earlier, I'm fully aware of how good the Iranian Super League is and if I get a good offer, the decision will be easy."

First things first. Niktash wants to clinch a spot in the Iran side that is going to play at the FIBA Asia Cup.

"I'm a young player who wants to do his best to play for the national team and I would like to make the final cut for the FIBA Asia Cup 2017," he said. "But of course, that will depend on my performances in the China tournament."

FIBA