The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Jaraun “Kino” Burrows has suited up in the black, aquamarine and gold on the court as a member of The Bahamas’ men’s national basketball team for the last time.

The 34-year-old veteran forward announced his retirement from national team play which has included seven tournament appearances over 13 years at the senior level.

“It’s a very hard decision. It’s been 15 years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears and I’ve seen the programme come from the bottom to heading in the right direction. I have always felt blessed to be a part of it,” Burrows said.

“I just feel like now, with the new FIBA format, leaving in the middle of seasons for two weeks at a time, flying across the world, having to adjust your schedule to how you eat, sleep and play games - then immediately fly back to Europe and adjust all over again. As I’m getting older it’s been more challenging on my body. I don’t adjust as easily as I used to. It took me a long time to get back into the swing of things after the last window in Mexico and in Nassau and there’s no way I could commit to the next two rounds.”

Burrows was most recently a member of Team Bahamas at the FIBA AmeriCup 2021 Qualifiers. In his final national team appearance, he scored eight points off the bench to help The Bahamas to a 76-59 win over Mexico in February at the Atlantis resort to even the series between the two teams at 1-1.

The Bahamas is currently second in Group D at 1-1 with the advantage over Mexico on point differential. The USA leads the Group at 2-0 while Puerto Rico is 0-2.

In July 2018, Burrows finished with six points and 10 rebounds to help Team Bahamas to an 83-82 win over The Dominican Republic in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

“I do feel like it’s special to leave us headed in the right direction with wins in two out of my last three games with the national team against The Dominican Republic and Mexico so I’m excited about the future of Team Bahamas,” he said.

“As I’m getting older, there’s more fresh young talent coming into the programme and for now I think this is the right thing to do. I feel like I will still be a positive part of the programme moving forward, but just now, off the court.

This surge of high level talent is hungry to come and play and represent their country.

In 2017, FIBA changed the competition format across the board for its international events and through the new format, including home-and-away series.

The cycle calls for a day of travel, another day of practice and then the game is played. The following day, the teams travel to the opposing country, get in a day of practice and then they play before they complete the first series of games.

Burrows said the changes in approach to the national team programme have reaped benefits on the court.

“Although at times it is difficult with the new FIBA format to get the college and NBA guys. I feel like we are headed in the right direction. Under President Bowleg things have been on the right track and also since Baha Mar came on board its been a huge difference with the programme with the way we have been treated. Things like that matter and you can see from the results,” Burrows said.

“We beat a World Cup and an Olympic team in our last outings. We continue to connect the dots and hopefully we get to see the Bahamas in the Olympics soon.”

This offseason, Burrows signed on for his second stint with the FOS Provence-Basket Byers which will mark his second stint with the team in the LNB French Pro B League.

The 6’ 8 forward spent last season with Aix-Maurienne Savoie.

In 22 games with the club, he averaged 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He was also named league Player of the Week twice.

Burrows has been a senior men’s national team member for the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships in 2007 and 2011. He was also a member of the Centrobasket teams in 2012, 2014 and 2016 in addition to the World Cup Qualifiers and AmeriCup Qualifiers for the last two years.

His pro career has also included stops in Israel, Sweden, Finland, Eastern Europe and South America.

He said he looks forward to continuing his impact in another capacity off the court and working closely with the Bahamas Basketball Federation.

“I think my role with the national team will stay the same as it’s been the last 10 years. I’ve been a big brother for most of the guys coming through the programme, including Buddy [Hield] and Deandre [Ayton] all the way up to the young guys like Nado [Dominick Bridgewater] so I’m going to continue to provide whatever experience, leadership and mentorship that I can and I definitely want to stay working with the federation,” he said.

“President Bowleg and I have some really good ideas in mind, hopefully some announcements should be made this summer.”