Carolina Giants head coach explains his absence from the Olympics

By The Star Staff

Carolina Giants head coach Carlos González, a member of the coaching staff of Puerto Rico’s national basketball team, announced earlier this week that he will not accompany the team to the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

González said his decision is due to previously established personal and family reasons that were communicated to island basketball federation officials and others well ahead of the FIBA ​​Qualifying Tournament, which was held last weekend.

“Months before the FIBA ​​Qualifying Tournament I indicated to Yum Ramos and Carlos Arroyo that it would be difficult for me to go if the boys qualified for the Olympics,” González said Wednesday in a written statement.

The coach added that at the beginning of August his daughter will celebrate her 15th birthday, a commitment that he said cannot be missed.

“Every coach’s dream is to go to the Olympics and represent his country, but my daughter’s dream is for her father to be home on the most important date of her youth,” González said. “For me, that dream is worth more than any other. I have already missed many family commitments to represent my country and this is very important for me and my daughter.”

González recognized the great effort and commitment of the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation to bring the best available talent to Paris.

“I have nothing negative against the national team; on the contrary, I am grateful for each of the opportunities they have given me and I will always be available for my country,” he said. “I want to emphasize that neither the executives of the Federation nor the management of the Carolina Giants have anything to do with this decision; it is a personal and family decision.”

“My greatest wishes to the group that will represent us in France,” the coach added. “I know it will be a great experience for these boys and for Puerto Rico, which had been waiting for 20 years to see the basketball team in the Olympics.”