Former Golden State Warriors’ wing Patrick McCaw has got himself caught in a sticky situation as he sought arrival in Belgium to play for Filou Oostende in the BNXT league in Europe.
The three-time NBA champion was unable to enter the country due to issues with his Visa, leading to deportation back to the United States after being detained for three days, according to BasketNews.
Having played two seasons with the Golden State Warriors to begin his career, Patrick McCaw will be looking for a new home after a failed move to Belgium.
According to the BasketNews report, McCaw’s contract with Filou Oostende will now be voided, leaving him to find a new team to continue his professional career. It seems the 27-year-old was desperate to play for his new team, with a former politician even brought in to try and aid the situation.
“Former Belgium’s Minister of Economy and Deputy Prime Minister, Johan Vande Lanotte, visited McCaw in the detainment center, Sporza notes, but the experienced lawyer wasn’t able to get the player released”, BasketNews wrote.
McCaw was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 38th overall pick in 2016, before Golden State immediately purchased his draft rights. The 6’7″ wing made a sizeable impact straight away, appearing in 71 games (20 starts) and averaging just over 15 minutes per game.
He also made three starts during the 2017 NBA playoffs where the Warriors finished with a remarkable 16-1 record, concluding an impressive rookie year for the then 21-year-old.
McCaw would average 16.9 minutes across 57 games (10 starts) during his second season, averaging four points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. His role was more limited in the 2018 playoffs compared to the year prior, but he nonetheless was rewarded with a second NBA title.
McCaw became a restricted free agent after the 2017-18 season, with the Warriors choosing not to match a non-guaranteed deal from the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he played only three games with the team before joining the Toronto Raptors where he famously won a third-straight NBA championship against Golden State in 2019.
While McCaw has not played in the league since a five-game cameo in the 2020-21 season, success does continue to follow him wherever he goes. He won the G League championship with the Delaware Blue Coats last season.