Wisconsin basketball multiyear starter to represent Puerto Rico in 2024 Olympics

The Puerto Rico men’s national basketball team booked its ticket on Sunday to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. It did so with wins over Mexico and then Lithuania in the final two rounds of one of the FIBA men’s Olympic qualifying tournaments.

On the Puerto Rico team that will compete in the Olympics this summer is former Wisconsin multiyear starter Aleem Ford.

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Ford first played for Puerto Rico during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He is part of the territory’s Olympic team along with New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jose Alvarado and Memphis Hustle (NBA G League) small forward Davon Reed.

The former Badger played four years in Madison, Wisconsin. His career included 126 games played from 2017-2021 and per-game averages of 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.3 blocks.

Ford has bounced around the professional ranks since departing college in 2021. His winding career has included stops with the Leones De Ponce (Puerto Rico, 2021), Lakeland Magic (NBA G League, 2021-22), Orlando Magic (2021), Leones De Ponce (2022), Lakeland Magic (2022-23), Leones De Ponce (2023), Cleveland Charge (NBA G League, 2023-24), Wisconsin Herd (NBA G League, 2023-24) and, finally, back with the Leones De Ponce (2024).

The small forward is looking to make a return to the NBA; he played in five games with the Orlando Magic during the 2021-22 season. A strong showing at the Olympics against some of the world’s top competition could facilitate that return.

He and the Puerto Rico national team will be in Group C when the Olympics tip off this month. They are in a group with the USA, Serbia and South Sudan. The top two teams in the group advance to the elimination bracket.

The action starts on Saturday, July 27 and continues into August.

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