Tyler Lamb to lead in FIBA debut with Thailand

NONTHABURI (FIBA Asia Cup 2021 SEABA Pre-Qualifier) - Tyler Lamb can’t wait. He had waited long enough to make his Thailand National Team debut in the South-East Asian (SEA) Games 2017. Once he got the taste of it, he just couldn’t wait for another chance to put on the National Team jersey again. 

The Thai-American has spent the past three years playing in Thailand and around Asia before finally getting things sorted out to play for the National Team. When he eventually made his debut, he didn’t disappoint. Lamb exploded for 19.2 points per game in the SEA Games, helping Thailand get the Bronze medal. 

Now Lamb is set to make his FIBA debut and he’s looking for more than just a third place finish. 

“This is my second time representing the country but my first FIBA event,” Lamb says. “Anytime I get called to represent Thailand, it’s an honor for me. I wish I could play in every national team event. It’s just an honor to put on the national team jersey and represent the country, trying to go in and help Thailand basketball move forward.”

It had been Lamb’s scoring that has had Thailand basketball moving forward so far. The 6’5” guard is a deadly shooter on the catch and off the dribble. He handles the ball as if it was a part of his body. He doesn’t have the hops to jump out of the gym, but he’s crafty enough to finish efficiently around the rim. Lamb’s proven himself as a scorer.

Now, Thailand needs more from him.

“My role on the team — usually I would be like a scorer or something like that — but I kind of have a different role with this team,” Lamb explains. “I try to be a leader with this team. I try to be an example for the young guys and help them in anyway I can. If I see something that they don’t see on the court, I try to just point it out to them and just give them knowledge that I was given from older guys when I was younger.” 

Even though Thailand will be featuring some new faces that are getting their first call-ups, Lamb should have no problem meshing with the team. The 27-year-old is ready to share his experience and he feels everyone is ready to learn from each other as well.

“The chemistry will be there,” Lamb confidently says. “I played with and against a lot of the guys on the team. There are a lot of young guys on the team that are really talented and play really hard and I think for us as the older guys, we just put these guys under our wing and just bring them along with what’s going on. I think that’ll help tremendously because looking at the younger guys, they are the next generation.”

“It’s looking good.”

“The young guys, they play so hard. You know they want to win. You can tell that everyone wants to win and it doesn’t feel like a burden to be here because it feels like everyone wants to be here. When it’s like that its easier to come and help guys that want to be helped. It’s different when guys don’t want to listen but everybody wants to learn here. It’s a good atmosphere.”

Tyler Lamb is ready for another stint with the Thailand. And you can be sure that he’ll be ready for the next time the National Team calls.

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