WHY not make it stronger?
Strong Group Athletics yesterday bolstered its roster for the coming 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship by tapping former NBA player Malachi Richardson and journeyman forward Terry Larrier.
The two will join former NBA stars Dwight Howard and DeMarcus Cousins and naturalized cagers Angelo Kouame and Andray Blatche.
The prestigious club tourney is set for Jan. 24 to Feb 2.
Richardson, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard, was the 22nd overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and has played for the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors.
After his stint in the NBA, Richardson went overseas, suiting up for clubs in Israel, Italy, Poland, Indonesia, and Mexico.
“Malachi is a great shooter, a true professional, and has shown a great attitude so far,” Strong Group coach Charles Tiu said. “We believe he’ll be a vital part of our success in Dubai.”
Larrier is a 6-foot-7 small forward from New York.
He has played in the G League for teams such as San Diego and Wisconsin, and he also has extensive international experience with stints in Sweden, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Romania, Venezuela, South Africa, and Qatar.
“We want guys who can help spread the floor for DeMarcus,” Tiu said.
Joining the two reinforcements are some top players, including Rhenz Abando, Dave Ildefonso, Jason Brickman, Allen Liwag, Tony Ynot, and Justine Sanchez.
Tiu’s wards wound up as bridesmaids in last year’s edition of the Dubai tourney, losing to Al-Riyadi 74-77 on Ismail Abdelmoneim’s three-pointer at the buzzer.