Michael Gbinije and the Nigerian national basketball team won’t advance to the medal round at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, but the Detroit Pistons rookie did pick up some valuable playing experience.
Pistons coach and president Stan Van Gundy said being part of the Olympic experience would only help the Syracuse rookie, who played just one Orlando Summer League game with Detroit because of an ankle injury suffered July 3. He signed his contract 11 days later.
“He got hurt in our camp, but the only issue he has had down there (in Rio) is he got sick and he missed their second game," Van Gundy said today. "He has come back and played in Games 3 and 4. He has played well. His numbers have been good in Games 3 and 4. He has one more today. They cannot move on, so today (Brazil) will be his last one. Overall, I think it has been good experience for him.
“He has been playing off the ball at the two (shooting guard) and three (small forward). He hasn’t really played any point (guard). He has handled the ball some, but generally he’s out there with another guard."
•Pistons give Gbinije a multi-year deal
Van Gundy wanted to experiment with Gbinije at point guard during the summer alongside second-year swingman Darrun Hilliard, but when Gbinije got hurt, those plans were scratched.
So the experience in Rio de Janeiro gave the 6-foot-7 wing some playing time. Gbinije was the 49th pick in June's NBA draft.
所以里约的比赛给了这位2.01米的侧翼一些上场时间，贝纳杰今年第49顺位被活塞队选中。
“I think being able to go down and play in four games in the Olympics was good," Van Gundy said. “He played three or four exhibition games, so he has gotten some good playing time against good competition. I think that has been a positive."
“我认为去里约并且参加了四场比赛是好的，”范甘迪说，“贝纳杰参加了三到四场比赛，跟强队交手的比赛中得到了很好的上场时间。我认为这是积极的一面。”
The Pistons' other Olympic representative, Aron Baynes, a center on the Australian team, has played well, scoring eight points and pulling down seven rebounds in the team’s 81-56 victory over Venezuela on Sunday.
活塞队另外一个参加本届奥运会的人是阿隆-贝恩斯，他是澳大利亚队的中锋，表现也很出色。当地时间周日81-56战胜A队的比赛中得到8分7个篮板。
In the loss to Team USA, Baynes had to play against Carmelo Anthony.
在输给美国队的比赛中，贝恩斯不得不对位安东尼。
“He has played well and he has actually be in some difficult situations and still managed to play well," Van Gundy said. “They have played him and (Andrew) Bogut together. He was guarding Carmelo because Aron was playing the four and Carmelo was playing the four. Obviously, really good work for him, but not an easy situation for him.
“贝恩斯打得很好，实际上他有一些困难的处境，他努力克服并打出了出色的比赛，”范甘迪说到，“澳大利亚队用博格特和贝恩斯搭档前场，贝恩斯要去防守安东尼，因为安东尼在美国队也是打四号位的。很明显这对贝恩斯是个挑战，但是他完成的很漂亮。”
"He has played very steady basketball. The guy is just a good basketball player. He’s playing on a really good team. They play well together and you can see where Aron gets it. He plays good, hard team basketball."
“贝恩斯表现很稳定，是个真正的篮球运动员。澳大利亚队是个好球队，他们在一起打球，你能看到贝恩斯很享受比赛。贝恩斯打的很出色，强硬而且注重团队配合。”范甘迪补充说。
