breaking news; Drew Gooden’ announce his return with full commitment…..

The immortal Drew Gooden’s dual citizenship application didn’t get cleared in time to play for the Finnish national team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Gooden’s mother is Finnish, and Finland’s 12-mother roster for the tournament doesn’t include the Washington Wizards big man. Damn you, bureaucracy! Per the WaPo:

In a recent phone interview, Gooden explained that he grew up with his father, Andrew, in Oakland, Calif., but made summer-long trips to Finland every two years to spend time with his mother’s family. He roamed his grandparents’ farm — situated about four hours north of the Finnish capital of Helsinki — milking cows, hunting, fishing, and tending to chicken coops.

 

“Half of my family is still over there and I communicate with them all the time,” said Gooden, whose father met Lear while playing professional basketball in Finland. “So it’s like I have time spent there. It’s not like I’m doing this because I just happen to be half-Finnish. No, I really actually have ties to Finland and the culture.”