Jonas Jerebko's suspension from the national team was lifted in the spring. The message came after Jerebko himself asked the Swedish Basketball Federation (SBBF) if he could be selected for the squad for the summer's European Championship or not. He had then been suspended from national team play since he went to CSKA Moscow in March 2022, a few months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Jerebko was however ultimately rejected.
"It really sucks"
Every coaching staff in the European Championship would probably have taken me, at least given me a chance at the training camp. But not in Sweden, he says to Expressen.
It really sucks not to be at the European Championship. It sucks really hard. I know I won't get another chance, he says.
It was up to the national team's four coaches to assess whether Jerebko was competitively viable for a place in the European Championship squad. When the squad was selected, the veteran's name was missing. According to the player, part of the motivation was that "the decision was best for Swedish basketball".
It would have been fine if they had just said no directly. "Jonas, you haven't played for so long." But to say that I will get a sporting chance and then not take me to the camp. As I said, I have put in so much time. And then they kick my legs out from under me like that. It's disrespectful, I think, says the 38-year-old to the newspaper.
The veteran has been clubless since he injured his Achilles tendon in Puerto Rico in April last year. According to Expressen, he has only played two matches in the last three years.
Meets criticism
Sweden's national team coach Mikko Riipinen meets Jerebko's criticism in writing to Expressen.
"We have had an open dialogue with several players, including Jonas, about their status and opportunities. That Jonas was not called up to the selection camp was a result of a comprehensive assessment, not an expression of lack of respect", writes Mikko Riipinen.
Jerebko has apologized for signing and playing for CSKA Moscow after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
I want to say sorry. It was wrong, but I can only blame myself, he said to TT in the summer of 2023.
Sweden is in the round of 16 in the European Championship and will meet Turkey in Riga on Saturday. It's the first time the men's national team has reached the playoffs in a European Championship.
