Like all of us, Charlotte Hornets big man Frank Kaminsky is taking advantage of the 2016 Olympics to watch some non-traditional sports. According to his Twitter feed though, one has caught the attention of Kaminsky more than anything else, enough that he is trying to figure out how to play it during his free time.
Yo @USATH ... I'm available in 2020. Scored 16 goals in Gym Class Handball (yes that's the class record)... CC: Joe Cabay
— Frank Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) August 8, 2016
The first question I have is what gym class Kaminsky is talking about. One would assume a future NBA player could score way more than 16 goals during a high school gym class. Unless he means in a game, then that seems more impressive. It also is hard to believe that in college his head coach Bo Ryan would let his star play handball, even if it was for a class. But that is besides the point. Many people thought Kaminsky was joking with his tweet. He wasn’t.
I am most certainly not kidding https://t.co/wiJCugazT3
— Frank Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) August 8, 2016
Of course, the USA handball federation jumped at the chance to have a gigantic athlete like Kaminsky on board, offering him a shot to try out for the team in October. Which sadly poses a problem.
Can't make it (don't wanna quit my day job) but next summer I'm there https://t.co/rIBdM4GJ5v
— Frank Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) August 10, 2016
Hopefully the two sides, and the Hornets, can work something out because the USA needs this. Kaminsky will take some time to develop for sure, but having NBA caliber athletes playing handball seems like a good way for the USA to get better fast. Kaminsky is just the first step. By getting him on board the USA federation has the perfect recruiting tool to get non-Team USA basketball players to the Olympics. Players like J.R. Smith.
You are welcome for the new dream of J.R. Smith, Olympic handball player, by the way.