Belgian Lions: Jean-Marc Mwema retires from national team after 130 caps and 15 years

Jean-Marc Mwema has announced his retirement from the Belgian Lions after nearly 15 years with the national side, Basketball Belgium reported on Friday morning. The Antwerp-born forward, who turns 36 next month, made an impressive 130 appearances for Belgium.

According to the federation, Mwema feels his body now needs more rest. The Belgian Lions begin their qualification campaign for the 2027 World Cup next week, but the Lucentum Alicante player has decided to take no further part. This past summer, he featured in his fifth EuroBasket tournament with the national team.

“I had already been wondering this summer how much longer I would continue playing,” said Mwema, who received his first call-up in mid-2011. “I wasn’t entirely sure when the most recent EuroBasket began, but winning our final match away to Poland felt so good that it seemed the right moment to stop on a high, after what was not an easy campaign."

"I would still like to play another one or two seasons, so the extra rest during international windows and the summer will help me physically," he said. "I’m turning 36, and that feels like the right age to step away from the Belgian Lions. It is better to stop now than halfway through a new qualifying campaign.”

Mwema leaves the Lions with several memorable highlights. “I will never forget the EuroBasket 2015 win against Lithuania, after Matt Lojeski’s tip-in in the final seconds. Or EuroBasket 2022, when we beat the eventual European champions Spain by 10 points. Victories against Europe’s top nations are moments that will stay with you.”

^{#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO TOMASZ SOKOLOWSKI}