Former Eagles star Kareem Maddox will be on the world stage this summer representing USA in 3×3 at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Maddox came to Tyneside in his second season pro back in 2012 and quickly became a favourite of Eagles fans who have followed his career over the years that have followed.

Kareem averaged 14.8 points and a league leading 10.8 rebounds per game for the Eagles in the 2012-13 season when he picked-up two player of the month awards as well as places in the 2013 Team of the Year and Defensive Team of the Year.

Despite being a global sport, basketball can be a small world. Having completed our first year in European competition, Newcastle fans looking back will recognise the team that our then player-coach Fab Flournoy recruited Kareem from, Dutch side Landstede Hammers, who competed in Group A of the ENBL last season.

Following his departure from Tyneside, the 6’8″ Californianpower forward played a season in Poland before his retirement from the 5-on-5 game when he took-up 3×3 and has made it his sport ever since.

The Olympic field has tough opposition in reigning gold medalists Latvia along with the Netherlands and Serbia – three countries who coincidently have all played at the Vertu Motors Arena against Great Britain in FIBA EuroBasket or World Cup Qualifier games.

Eagles backing for Maddox in the Olympics will be bolstered by his fellow Princeton alum and our Academy graduate Tosan Evbuomwan.

And while Tosan continues to become a world-wide star in the NBA, Kareem is going for gold on the biggest stage when the Men’s 3×3 competition tips-off next Tuesday, 30 July.