Patrick Gardner showed off his skills during a game against Montenegro, scoring 13 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. These glimpses of his talent earned him an invitation to train with the Brooklyn Nets, an NBA team.
Imagine a tall left-handed player who stands at 6 feet 11 inches and isn’t afraid to shoot six three-pointers in an international basketball game. He’s coming off playing in the Summer League with the Miami Heat and now has a chance with the Brooklyn Nets. This makes you wonder: Who is Patrick Gardner?
With a smile and his bouncy hair, Patrick says, “I’m the new guy.” He has an interesting background. His mom is from Egypt, and his dad is American with some Italian and Irish roots. While he grew up in New York, he spent his summers in Egypt and always dreamed of playing for the Egyptian national team.
Patrick played college basketball for the Marist Red Foxes. He was pretty good, averaging around 19 points and 6 rebounds per game. Plus, he’s a great three-point shooter. And since his mom is Egyptian, he understands Arabic, which is helpful when playing for Egypt.
Even though Egypt’s team hasn’t won their first two games, people who follow the team see something exciting brewing. The players are giving their all and playing their hearts out. Patrick and other younger players are getting more important roles on the team. And their coach, Roy Rana, is building a plan for the future.
Patrick’s unique style of left-handed shooting is something to watch out for. Being from New York and a lefty like him, he’s inspired by players like Jalen Brunson, who plays in the Philippines, and he’s excited to be in Manila.
He says, “Being here feels unreal. It’s like a dream come true. Being around coaches and players like this makes it even better.”
One of his mentors on the team is Assem Marei, who’s been a big part of Egyptian basketball for a long time. Patrick sees him as someone to learn from, especially since Assem is a bit older and has a lot of experience.
Once the World Cup ends, Patrick will head back to the United States to start his professional basketball journey. He had a good summer playing with the Miami Heat, and now he’s aiming to make his mark with the Brooklyn Nets.
“I’m lucky to have a chance to join the Nets for their training camp. I hope I can keep moving up depending on how things go here and in general. I might start with the G League team, but who knows what could happen? I need to be ready for anything,” Patrick said as he looked ahead.
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