AMMAN (Jordan) - There’s been an abundance of talent for Jordan through the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers. Whether it’s Amin Abu Hawwas or Freddy Ibrahim, the future of Jordan basketball looks bright. Another player that fans might want to add on their radars as a player to watch is Sami Bzai, a talented 27-year-old guard.

Bzai will be coming fresh of a successful stretch in his professional career which includes an MVP season in the domestic league. That form makes it hopeful that fans will see him suit up for the national team in the upcoming games of the Qualifiers.

Bzai himself can’t wait for that opportunity to come as well.

“I want to win all our games and show everyone that Jordan has some of the best players in the Asia Cup."

 
"I am greatly looking forward to the games," he said. "I haven’t played with the national team in too long , so it’s great to be back."

At the age of 10, Bzai had started playing organized team basketball, the start of what hopefully will be a lengthy career. Young Sami would practice before and after games with his dad and it was that determination and focus that has helped propel him to this point.

More interestingly, Bzai’s basketball background stands out as he played both at the high school and collegiate level in the US.

"I played with and against a lot of great players [in the US], but the best ones are Jabari Parker and Jerryd Bayless."

The 1.9M (6’3") shooting guard was a standout in Division II of the NCAA, playing at Southeastern Oklahoma State in his last two collegiate season. Because of the hard work he had put in, a call finally came through.

"It all started when Coach Sam Daghles heard about me and contacted me on Twitter and asked me to come and play. I owe him a lot," Bzai recalled.

"I always thought I could play professional basketball if I worked at it enough. I’m confident in what I can do on the court."

Bzai made his national team debut at the FIBA Asia Challenge in 2016 and made his Asia Cup debut later in 2017. Obviously, he’s hoping to make it a second straight appearance later this year in Indonesia.

"It feels great to represent the country and play basketball at a high level. I love my teammates because we are one big basketball family."

As he was fresh out of college in his first run in the Asia Cup, it might be expected for Bzai to bring something different to the table for Jordan in his future national team appearances.

"The biggest change from my first time on the national team is that my role has changed so I feel more responsibility in my performance and also as a leader of the team."

Bzai names Japan and Australia as teams that he would like to play against in the FIBA Asia Cup when the time comes, but the first step now is to earn a qualification spot from the Qualifiers. Jordan are currently undefeated after playing two games in Group F and they are certainly hoping to keep that loss column clean up until the final buzzer of the last game.

"I want to win all our games and show everyone that Jordan has some of the best players in the Asia Cup."

FIBA