Kamar Baldwin led Georgia against France: the debate over naturalized players rages on

In Riga, Kamar Baldwin (1.85m, 27 years old) likely experienced one of the greatest nights of his career. The native of Georgia… the American state, not the country whose jersey he has worn since 2024, delivered an almost perfect performance against France in the round of 16.

In 33 minutes, the combo guard scored 24 points on 8/10 shooting, including 3/4 from three-point range, grabbed 4 rebounds, dished out 2 assists and finished the game without a single turnover. An exceptional performance that earned him the highest efficiency rating of the game (30).

A signature game for Baldwin

Previously limited to 28% from three-point range in the tournament, Baldwin finally found his outside rhythm. His long-range shots, especially at the end of shot clocks, kept Georgia ahead of the French, confirming his role as the natural offensive leader of this team. With his impact, the Caucasus nation qualified for their first-ever EuroBasket quarterfinals.

Kamar BALDWIN

24

PTS

4

REB

2

AST

The eternal naturalization debate

But behind the individual achievement lies a recurring controversy. For nearly 20 years, the issue of naturalizations has stirred European basketball. Baldwin, who became Georgian last year, is the latest example of an increasingly common practice.

Antoine Eito, point guard for Antibes (ELITE 2) and French 3×3 international, expressed on X (formerly Twitter): « Real question, real debate… Jordan Lloyd with Poland and Kamar Baldwin with Georgia. I’m only mentioning these two, for example, because we played against them. What pride can all these countries feel if they win a medal with an impactful American on their team? »

Vraie question, vrai débat…
Lloyd-> Pologne
Baldwin-> Georgie

Je ne cite que ces deux là, par exemple, et parce que l’on a joué contre eux.

Quelle fierté tous ces pays peuvent ressentir, si ils gagnent une breloque avec un Americain d’impact +++ dans leur équipe?#bullshittome

— Ant1 (@AntEito) September 7, 2025

This outburst illustrates the unease felt by part of the basketball community. Some see it as a denaturation of national teams, others as an opportunity for emerging countries to exist on the international stage.

A persistently divisive issue

The Baldwin case surely won’t be the last to fuel debates. The question is also controversial in Poland, which nevertheless benefited from Jordan Loyd’s impact to return to the EuroBasket quarterfinals. On one side, spectacular individual performances that elevate teams. On the other, the question of legitimacy and sporting identity of a nation.