Ford helps Puerto Rico qualify for Olympics
July 09, 2024 | Men's Basketball
Former Badger headed to 2024 Olympics in Paris
SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) — Former Wisconsin men's basketball player Aleem Ford officially became an Olympian on Sunday, after he helped the Puerto Rico national basketball team clinch a spot in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
Competing at home in San Juan at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Puerto Rico capped off a perfect qualification campaign with four straight victories. Puerto Rico's showing included wins over Bahrain (99-56), Italy (80-69), Mexico (98-78) and Lithuania (79-68).
Ford, who has Puerto Rican heritage through his mother, played in three of the four qualifying games. His best performance came against Bahrain when he scored 10 points in 12 minutes off the bench.
Puerto Rico will make its first appearance in the men's Olympic basketball tournament since 2004.
The men's Olympic basketball tournament will begin on July 27 in Lille, concluding with the final and third-place game in Paris on Aug. 10.
Wed., July 31Â - Puerto Rico vs. Serbia, 10am/ct, Peacock
Sat., Aug. 3Â - Puerto Rico vs. USA, 10:15am/ct, NBC and Peacock
This past season, Ford, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward, played professional basketball in the NBA G League, ending his season with the Wisconsin Herd.
With three years experience in the NBA G League and three years playing internationally, the 26-year-old began his professional basketball career with the Leones de Ponce in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league in Puerto Rico.
During the 2021-22 season, Ford joined the Lakeland Magic (now known as the Osceola Magic) and appeared in 43 games averaging 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists. On Dec.17, 2021 he signed a 10-day contract with the Orlando Magic and appeared in five NBA games. Ford rejoined the Lakeland Magic for the remainder of the 2021-22 and the 2022-23 season before joining the Cleveland Charge for the 2023-24 season. With the Charge, he averaged 11.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 36 games.
In March, Ford was traded to the Wisconsin Herd, NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, where he finished the season playing in nine games (eight starts) averaging 10.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Over his four-year collegiate career at Wisconsin, Ford played in 126 games, including 82 starts, averaging 6.5 points (34.8% 3FG) and 3.3 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game. He won a Big Ten regular season championship with the Badgers in 2020.
For the latest information and updates on Wisconsin men's basketball, follow @BadgerMBB on social media.
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Competing at home in San Juan at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Puerto Rico capped off a perfect qualification campaign with four straight victories. Puerto Rico's showing included wins over Bahrain (99-56), Italy (80-69), Mexico (98-78) and Lithuania (79-68).
Ford, who has Puerto Rican heritage through his mother, played in three of the four qualifying games. His best performance came against Bahrain when he scored 10 points in 12 minutes off the bench.
Puerto Rico will make its first appearance in the men's Olympic basketball tournament since 2004.
The men's Olympic basketball tournament will begin on July 27 in Lille, concluding with the final and third-place game in Paris on Aug. 10.
PUERTO RICO BASKETBALL OLYMPIC SCHEDULE
Sun., July 28Â - Puerto Rico vs. Sudan, 4am/ct, CNBC and PeacockWed., July 31Â - Puerto Rico vs. Serbia, 10am/ct, Peacock
Sat., Aug. 3Â - Puerto Rico vs. USA, 10:15am/ct, NBC and Peacock
This past season, Ford, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward, played professional basketball in the NBA G League, ending his season with the Wisconsin Herd.
With three years experience in the NBA G League and three years playing internationally, the 26-year-old began his professional basketball career with the Leones de Ponce in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league in Puerto Rico.
During the 2021-22 season, Ford joined the Lakeland Magic (now known as the Osceola Magic) and appeared in 43 games averaging 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists. On Dec.17, 2021 he signed a 10-day contract with the Orlando Magic and appeared in five NBA games. Ford rejoined the Lakeland Magic for the remainder of the 2021-22 and the 2022-23 season before joining the Cleveland Charge for the 2023-24 season. With the Charge, he averaged 11.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 36 games.
In March, Ford was traded to the Wisconsin Herd, NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, where he finished the season playing in nine games (eight starts) averaging 10.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Over his four-year collegiate career at Wisconsin, Ford played in 126 games, including 82 starts, averaging 6.5 points (34.8% 3FG) and 3.3 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game. He won a Big Ten regular season championship with the Badgers in 2020.
For the latest information and updates on Wisconsin men's basketball, follow @BadgerMBB on social media.
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