Thai star Tyler Lamb calls out Thailand’s handling of SEA Games eligibility: “If you can’t bring your strongest team, make everybody else weaker” 

A storm is brewing inside Thailand’s men’s basketball program — and one of its most decorated players is no longer staying silent.

Thai-American guard Tyler Lamb, a fixture of the national team for nearly a decade, has become the latest figure to speak out as confusion and backlash continue to swirl around the eligibility rules for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. But unlike other critics, Lamb’s frustration is aimed not just at organizers — but at Thailand itself.

The controversy erupted when SEA Games officials implemented a passport-only eligibility rule, while also enforcing a strict ban on naturalized players, a combination that has altered competitive balance across the region. 

The changes arrived just weeks before tip-off, blindsiding teams such as the Philippines — long-time tournament powerhouse — and cutting into Thailand’s own pool of talent.

Lamb, however, found himself unexpectedly removed from Thailand’s roster altogether, despite being a key part of the country’s last three medal runs. And that omission appears to have pushed him to a breaking point.

On Facebook, the 34-year-old vented his frustration directly:“This upcoming SEA GAMES looking more and more like a big joke.”

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‘MAKE EVERYBODY ELSE WEAKER’

Thai-American basketball standout Tyler Lamb called out Thailand’s own men’s basketball program, expressing frustration that the country will not be fielding its strongest squad in upcoming Southeast Asian Games.

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His criticism sharpened when a Thai sports page appeared to poke fun at the ongoing controversy. Lamb responded with a pointed accusation — one that struck at the heart of Thailand’s credibility as host nation.

“If you can’t bring your strongest team, make everybody else weaker, then try to fight.”

For a player who once wore Thailand’s colors with pride, his next words revealed how deeply the issue has affected him:

“Putting on a Thailand national team jersey doesn’t seem as fulfilling as it once was.”

Lamb’s résumé gives weight to his concerns. Standing 6-foot-5, he has helped Thailand capture bronze medals in 2017 and 2023, along with a historic silver in 2019, where Thailand pushed host Philippines in the gold medal match. Through coaching changes, roster turnovers, and shifting regional dynamics, Lamb remained one of the team’s most reliable pillars — until now.

But with Thailand hosting the Games this year, Lamb’s disappointment runs deeper than his personal situation. To him, the country is failing its own supporters.

“As far as 5×5 [basketball] goes, I think the fans deserve the best Thai team to represent the country,” he said.

And in a harsh comparison, Lamb implied that Thailand’s own SEA Games hosting might fall short of expectations — even compared to a controversial previous edition.

“The previous SEA Games in Cambodia might be better than this upcoming one [in Thailand]!”

As the SEA Games draw near, Lamb’s words now mirror a growing sentiment among players and fans across Southeast Asia: what should have been a showcase of regional basketball has instead become a cautionary tale about last-minute rule changes, poor communication, and lost opportunities.

For Thailand, the criticism hits especially hard — coming not from an outsider, but from one of its most loyal and accomplished veterans.

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